Princess Anne congratulates graduates at Thurso ceremony – full list of awards
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More than 70 graduates were personally congratulated by Princess Anne in Thurso as their successes were recognised by the Chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
The students were attending the UHI North, West and Hebrides’ graduation and celebration of success and achievement at the campus on Friday.
The Princess Royal addressed the graduates, who gathered with family and friends at St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church to receive their certificates.
Addressing over 200 guests, Professor Stuart Gibb, director of research and innovation at the Environmental Research Institute, commended all celebrating their successes, ranging from SVQ level 3 to postgraduate programmes.
Debbie Miller, UHI North, West and Hebrides vice-principal (operations) and senior officer for the north Highlands, said: “Today’s celebration of success and achievements are a powerful reminder of why we are here – to recognise your hard work, reflect on your time with us, and to look forward with excitement to your next chapter.
“We have shared this journey with you and feel incredibly proud of all you have achieved.
“This year we move forward under our new name, UHI North, West and Hebrides, and will continue to pioneer distinctive learning and research within our rural and island communities, providing students with access to supportive, high quality, and an impactful learning experience.”
Award winners, together with friends and family, enjoyed a warm address by Princess Anne, Chancellor of UHI, before being presented with their certificates.
Special awards were also presented to Jon O’Connor, gamekeeping and wildlife – UHI North Highland Student of the Year; and Leoni Mowat, BEng (Hons) mechanical engineering – Institute of Engineering Excellence Award.
Lydia Rohmer, principal of UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: “Today marks the end of your student journey with us. For now, however, it is the start of an exciting new chapter for you. With passion and hard work, you can achieve anything, and we hope your time with us opens many doors of opportunity for you.
“We are immensely proud of your achievements and wish your every success, happiness, and prosperity in the future.”
Professor Gibb provided a final congratulatory message and thanks to the minister David Malcolm of St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church, Andrew Mackay of the Caithness Collection, Piper Andrew Sinclair and Heather MacLean who carried UHI’s ceremonial mace.
UHI North, West and Hebrides formed on August 1 from the merger of UHI Outer Hebrides, UHI North Highland and UHI West Highland.
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John Baikie - BA (Hons) Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands
John Baikie was the official photographer for Friday’s graduation ceremony. But he also found time to graduate himself, with a BA (Hons) Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands.
The professional photographer was interested in moving into film, having started to work on more video as part of his work as a photographer. He’s now doing an MA Filmmaking with University of the West of Scotland. He’s won several awards with work he completed as part of his course.
His fourth year film, Cold Comfort for Change, picked up an award at the St Andrew’s Film Festival. He won the organiser’s choice award for his documentary, Ascent – The Climb of My Life, at the Bedford Documentary Film Festival in 2022.
His documentary, Gakyed, set in Bhutan in the Himalayas, will be shown at this year’s Dundee Mountain Film Festival.
Hollie Mackintosh - Professional Graduate Diploma in Education: Primary Education
Hollie Mackintosh (27), from Thurso, graduated with Professional Graduate Diploma in Education: Primary Education. After leaving school she studied nursing at RGU for two years but decided it wasn’t for her.
She did the BA (Hons) Child and Youth Studies with UHI North Highland before progressing to the PGDE.
She said: “The PGDE is online but there were a few of us who studied out of the Thurso campus together. I’ve done work placements at the local primary schools and I’m now working in supply roles as part of my probationary year.”
Graduates from UHI North, West and Hebrides in Thurso (source: UHI):
Doctor of Philosophy: Environmental Science PhD - Melissa Costagliola-Ray, Natalie Isaksson, Lisa Karen Shearer, James Slingsby, Huiyi Zhang.
Masters of Letters: Archaeological Studies - Iain Alexander Dodds.
Master of Science: Mechanical Engineering - Scott Gibson, Emma Beth Gunn, Leoni Carol Mowat.
Master of Research: Environmental Science - Thomas Thompson.
Master of Science: Sustainable Energy Solutions - Michael Crowe, Andrew Kelly, Michael Livingstone.
Post Graduate Diploma: Net Zero Communities - Clare Sterritt.
Post Graduate Diploma: Sustainable Energy Solutions - Desmond Boyd.
Post Graduate Certificate: Developing Low Carbon Communities - Francisco Cortes Sanchis.
Post Graduate Certificate: Teaching Qualifications for Further Education - Duncan Crofts, Kara Gray, Fiona Harper.
Professional Graduate Diploma in Education [PGDE]: Primary Education - Jessica Grace Campbell, Katie Mackay, Hollie Mackintosh, Rhea Sinclair.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Applied Music - Robert Toby King, Rebecca Shillan.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Business and Management (with Human Resource Management) - Elaine Gina Brass.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Child & Youth Studies - Victoria Lee Mutch.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands - Sara Aptomos, John Baikie, Charlie Dawson, Niamh Fowler, Kieran Hall, Gabriel Szeiler.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Creative Writing in the Highlands and Islands - Ashleigh Lauren Tucker, Geoffrey Francis King.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Equine Business Management - Reece Cunningham, Bethany Hall.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Golf Management - Alyxander Bihuniak, Grant Ross.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Professional Golf - Shin Bateman, Camryn Bulman, Rory Bushnell, Calum Stuart Maclean Draper, Declan Gray, Reece Haspell, Ian Lynam, Alan Stuart Murphy, Mark Parsonage, Giovanni Siani, Jack Stewart, Oliver David Till, Christopher Turner, Finlay Wallace, John Wilding.
Bachelor of Arts with Honours: Social Sciences - Kyle MacLeod.
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours: Mechanical Engineering - Niamh Charlotte Murray, Conner John Nellies, Viktor Szécsi.
Bachelor of Science with Honours: Environmental Science - Caleb Reid Montgomery, Sofia Mariana Ponte Dos Santos.
Bachelor of Science with Honours: Sports & Fitness - Scott David Bremner, Steven Munro Hughes, Neave Erin MacLeod.
Bachelor of Science with Honours: Social Sciences - Abbey Nancy McAdie.
Bachelor of Arts: Child and Youth Studies - Katie Jessie Helen Dunnett.
Bachelor of Arts: Equine Business Management - Sophie Leigh Bell, Shannon Clark.
Bachelor of Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Steven Budge, Liam Alexander Dunnett, Matthew David Grigor, Andrew Mackay, Kyle Oag.
Bachelor of Engineering: Mechanical Engineering - Michael Budge, Connor Henderson.
Bachelor of Science: Electrical and Electronic Engineering - Dean Robertson-Carswell.
Continuing Professional Development Award: Teaching Qualification Further Education (SCQF Level 9) - Donna Bain, Laura Gray, Lance Garrard Nicholson, Stephen Bull.
Diploma of Higher Education: Contemporary Film Making in the Highlands and Islands - Nicole Natalia Perez Skowronska.
Diploma of Higher Education: Electrical and Mechanical Engineering - Lewis Reece Buchanan, Scott Edwards, Jamie Robertson.
Diploma of Higher Education: Professional Golf (PGA) - Kyle Brown, Ellis Colin Henderson Hart, Ronan Higgins, Ethan Hurst, Gregor Scott Piggot Ramsay.
Higher National Diploma: Engineering Systems - Michael Cragg, Darren Gunn, Robbie Gunn, Morgan Kennedy, Shaun Kirk, Murray Mackenzie, Cameron Montgomery, Liam Sinclair.
Certificate of Higher Education: Applied Music - Paul Hornby-Battrick.
Certificate of Higher Education: Environmental Science - Jamie Moloney.
Certificate of Higher Education: Professional Golf - Samuel Rusnak, Cameron Wallace.
Certificate of Higher Education: Theological Studies - John Ernest Newall MacMillan.
Higher National Certificate: Business - Julie Davies, Susan Norton, Kimberley Munro, Rhys Scott, Hana Sutherland.
Higher National Certificate: Childhood Practice - Abbie Bruce, Tia Mackay, Rhea More, Riley Trueman, Jessica Tilt.
Higher National Certificate: Construction Management - Charlie-Jack Meeres, Kylle Offor.
Higher National Certificate: Engineering Systems - Jamie Ross.
Higher National Certificate: Game and Wildlife Management - Steven Campbell, Craig Clement, Ryan Grant, Jon O’Connor, Liam Perks, Jamie Sawyer, Stuart Taggart, Thomas Yoxall.
Higher National Certificate: Music - Finley Atkins, Hamish Atkins, Joseph Carson, Andrew Madej, Mia Munro, Tait Skinner.
Higher National Certificate: Social Services - Kaitlyn Valerie Polson.
Higher National Certificate: Sound Production - Kenneth Bauld, Scott Bell, Dean Mackay, Benetton-Ford Macleod, Andrew Wilson.
City & Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing Small Animal - Louise Bouise, Megan Bruce, Kerry Cameron, Jade Dowie, Elise Duncan, Beth Dunnett, Lauren Mckay, Rachael Mitchell, Megan Murray, Eve Paterson, Kerry Warden, Karen Webster, Calum Young.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3 (MA): Business and Administration - Ellie Mackay, Blair McGeachin, Rhea Booth.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3 (MA): Carpentry and Joinery (Construction) - Thomas Alexander Campbell, Don Swanson, Aaron Wilson.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3 (MA): Social Services and Healthcare - Rikki Mackenzie, Eva Malcolm, Angela Patience, Iona Sinclair.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3 (MA): Hospitality Supervision and Leadership - Francisca Sanchez Herrera.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3: Beauty Therapy - Abbie Bell, Teigan Campbell, Lauryn Miller, Annie Mills, Rachel O’Hare.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3: Electrical Installation SCQF - Sinclair Bremner, Robert Gunn, Ross Mackay, Mark Muir, Ross Steven.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3: Hairdressing - Mon Chan, Abbie Irvine-Dunnett, Stacy McGinley, Katrine MacGregor.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3: Social Services and Healthcare - Jordan Fraser, Jason Moss, Danielle Rodgers, Sophie Scott, Tracey Towe.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3: Social Services Children and Young People - Eva Arnold, Sarah Campbell, Connie Dougan, Marie Kelly, Joshua Phipps, Kayren Wilson.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3: Professional Cookery - Shaun Buchan, Georgi Dushanov, Keoni Jones, Devlin Kula, John Miller, Tony Sutherland.
Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3 / PDA: Carpentry & Joinery - Kieron Davies, Alan Gunn, Murray Mackay, John Mackenzie, Kylle Offor.
Professional Development Award: Carpentry & Joinery - Cameron Don, Kieran Hourston, Aimee Irvine-Dunnett, Harley Johnson, Liam McDonald, Ethan Paterson, Darran Reid, Connah-James Wadsworth, Ryan Williamson, Jacob Wilkie.
