A NUMBER of Wee County students have scooped top prizes after graduating from Forth Valley College.

Lynne McClelland (26), Claire Dempster (29) and Joe Pews (21) were rewarded for their achievements during a ceremony held at Falkirk Town Hall yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 7 October).

Lynne, from Sauchie, who graduated with an HND in Administration and IT, was delighted to win the Most Promising Student in the Department of Business sponsored by AG Office Supplies.

She said, “I am so happy to have won, but absolutely shocked at the same time, I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had done well in my course because my grades reflected that, but a shock as I didn’t even know an award such as this was available.” Claire graduated with an HNC in Early Education and Childcare and was presented with the top prize in Care, Health and Sport sponsored by Ede and Ravenscroft, while Joe, from Alva, won Modern Apprentice (MA) of the Year sponsored by OPITO.

Claire, who is from Alloa, said, “I did not even know that there was an award for most promising student so it came as a bit of a shock, but as I’ve had a bit of time to digest it, it’s nice to be acknowledged and all my hard work has paid off.” Joe, who is a Chemical Engineering MA with Dow Chemicals in Grangemouth, commented, “I feel really happy about winning the award and specially honoured as I was part of such a good group of apprentices.” Craig Stephens (21), from Alloa, is also set to graduate with an HND Architectural Technology and will be presented with the Most Promising Student in Construction prize sponsored by SCOTT Direct, at the Stirling Castle ceremony tomorrow night (Thursday 9 October).

He said, “I did not actually know about the prize so I was surprised. The fact that it’s out of the whole of the Construction Department is brilliant. There were so many people in my class that were just as good as me.” More than 900 students from 55 courses were eligible to graduate this year from Forth Valley College. A total of 190 of them chose to collect their scrolls at events held at the Falkirk Town Hall and Stirling Castle.

Mary Pitcaithly, Chief Executive of Falkirk Council spoke at Falkirk Town Hall, while guest speaker at the Stirling Castle event will be Stirling MP Anne McGuire.

Forth Valley College Principal, Dr Ken Thomson, said, “All of this year’s graduation prizewinners have worked extremely hard throughout the course of their studies and have been a credit to themselves and to the College.

“Everyone at Forth Valley College is very proud of Lynne, Claire, Joe and Craig and their efforts. I would like to wish them all the best.”