Graduation and Celebration of Success and Achievement Ceremony 2023
This year’s Graduation and Celebration of Success and Achievement ceremony, held at the Perth Concert Hall on Thursday 5 October, saw nearly 300 graduates and award winners presented with their degrees, diplomas, certificates, and awards.❤️
“I hope that you have enjoyed your experience with us and that you will remember your time here. I am sure you would want to join me in thanking the College staff who have worked with you to make your time here the best it could possibly be and that you will remember all of the friends that you have made along the way. Many friendships made here will last a lifetime.” – Dr Margaret Cook, UHI Perth Principal and Chief Executive
Our graduates and award winners had an amazing day!
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal and Chancellor of University of the Highlands and Islands shared her thoughts:
“As the Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, I congratulate you all on successfully completing your studies. Today represents the culmination of years of hard work, in some of the most testing of environments during a pandemic. In completing your studies, you have demonstrated resilience and a commitment to learning which will serve you well throughout your lives. You will also have experienced great personal growth.
As you begin a new chapter of your life, it is important to remember you have the ability to make a valuable contribution to your community, to our nation and the world. We face many global challenges, but I believe that with knowledge, skills, and determination, we can work together to create positive change.”
Professor Gary McEwan was our guest speaker
Gary is Chief Executive Officer of Elevator, an organisation that provides support to around half of Scotland’s start up and growing companies. He is also Chairman of the Elevator Foundation, a charity set up to provide support, mentoring and finance to young people from 18 – 30. A former UK Entrepreneur of the Year, who received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion, Gary has over 25 years of economic development experience in starting and scaling businesses.
“I have a passion for supporting young people. My firm belief is that while academia did not work out well for me, it offers a great grounding for life. Life for me has come full circle. My practical experiences have become useful to students, and I am eager to help them avoid the pitfalls. While my prelims were the pinnacle of my academic achievement, I took a different path and found my way back to academia with a backpack filled with different things.”
Sarah Ellis was the 2023 UHI Perth Student of the Year and overall UHI Student of the Year
A Literature Honours degree student, she was nominated by PAT and Lecturer, Kyle Smith who explained:
“Academically, Sarah has worked exceptionally hard throughout her degree achieving a well-deserved First. Beyond her assessments, her input online and in class has been imaginative, incisive, detailed as well as supportive of other students. I am nominating her for her all-round engagement with her university degree – grabbing opportunities with both hands.
“After she told me she had a short story published by the Scottish Book Trust, I also learned that she was an online tutor for disadvantaged children in Glasgow.
When the Ukraine war began, she suggested a drop off point for those in need, teaming up with HISA. She was Highly Commended in the HISA Awards 2022 for ‘Most Inspiring Student - The Students’ Choice’. In May this year she was accepted by Falmouth University to do an MA in Marketing and Digital Communications. She is also working as a Digital Marketing Executive aiming to make space education more accessible for primary school children, especially those with disabilities.
“Sarah is autistic, lives with cerebral palsy and is a fulltime wheelchair user. Sarah cares about the power of language (as all Literature students should) and she cares about the people around her.
“Sarah was a diligent, intelligent, engaged, and engaging student. Much of her degree took place during lockdown but her resilience, energy and enthusiasm was always on show. What she has done for herself and what she has offered up of herself exemplifies what education is for and why it can be such a privilege to be an educator.”
Katie Long was awarded UHI Perth Alumnus of the Year
The owner of Brown and Black’s Restaurant in Scone said: “I live and breathe hospitality, it’s all I have ever known. Our focus is on offering our customers great service that makes them want to return time and time again.”
Alumnus Dener Norris offered a Student Vote of Thanks
Dener studied Events Management and produced exceptional academic work throughout his time at UHI Perth. He also offered outstanding levels of support to his student peers and tirelessly campaigns for fairness, inclusivity, and diversity in the hospitality industry. He is now Assistant General Manager at The Ivy Buchanan Street, Glasgow.
He said: “It’s an honour representing so many voices in this very special day for all of us.”
We streamed the full ceremony live on YouTube
Our traditional procession walked through Perth City Centre
We captured the whole day, to remember for years to come!
And finally…we wished you good luck for the future!
“We are all very proud of you and of your achievements and I hope that you will keep in touch. We will always be here to support your on-going personal and professional development, whatever road you choose to go down.
“Congratulations and good luck for the future.” – Dr Margaret Cook, UHI Perth Principal and Chief Executive
