banff and buchan college

Graduation 2011

Banff and Buchan College held their 17th graduation ceremony this Saturday 1st October.

For the first time the College held their graduation on site at the main campus in Fraserburgh in the new atrium of the recently refurbished college.

The event was organised in conjunction with the Scottish Qualifications Authority to recognise the achievements of students who successfully completed their studies in a wide range of Higher National Certificate and Diploma courses at the College during the academic session 2010-11. 

Graduates this year came from two of the three different vocational training sectors within the College, Business and the Arts and Engineering, Technology and Renewables.

College Principal, Paul Sherrington, led congratulations to all the students who attended, accompanied by their family and friends. Mr Sherrington said “It has been brilliant to be able to hold this year’s graduation at our new campus. The new spacious atrium is a great venue and it has been great for the students and their families to have the opportunity to come in and see the new College for themselves. It is great to have this opportunity to congratulate our students for all the efforts they have made throughout the year and commemorate their success in passing their course.”

Guest speaker at this year’s ceremony was Liam Burns, President of the National Union of Students. Joined by Vice president Toni Pearce he said "I thought it was important to put across to students that today's graduation is not an ending or a comclusion. It is a very exciting start to their journey into work or further education and they should strive to keep achieving more."

A number of students were singled out as part of the graduation ceremony to reward them for outstanding achievements, these students were:

Ede & Ravenscroft winners - awards given for students progressing well through the Further Education System and who are going on to Higher Education
Anne-Marie Seatter – HND Accounting  - Pitmedden
Agnese Jekobsone – HND Social Science - Peterhead
Elizabeth Gray – HNC Computer Arts & Design

SQA prize winner - for outstanding performance
Jelena Krendler – HND Business - Fraserburgh

Score prize winners - for top performing Technology students
Darren Mackay – HNC Electrical Engineering – North Shawbost
Peter Davies –HNC Mechanical Engineering - Fyvie
Steven Ashcroft – HNC Mechanical Engineering - Turriff
Joss Turner – HND Mechanical Engineering - Kemnay

The ceremony was closed by Alan Findlay, Chairman of the College Board of Management, who congratulated the graduates on their achievements and thanked all the family and friends who had helped and supported them through their learning journey.