UHI ARGYLL is delighted to announce the winners of its 2025 Student of the Year Awards, celebrating outstanding achievement, resilience, and dedication across its Schools Link, Further Education, and Higher Education courses.
There was success for a Cowal student as well as a Bute student.
This year also marks the introduction of a new category recognising the achievements of students on a Modern Apprenticeship programme.
The Further Education award was jointly presented to Alyssa McGarrie from the Isle of Arran and Stephanie Kemp from Rothesay.
In the Higher Education category, the award went to Helen Smith from Dunoon.
In the Schools Link category, Nyah McBride from Helensburgh was named the winner, and Kacper Kasperowicz from the Isle of Gigha was named the winner of the Modern Apprenticeship award.
Stephanie Kemp:
Rothesay’s Stephanie studied the NC Social Sciences Level 5 course, and has been recognised for her academic excellence,
leadership, and supportive nature. Despite managing a demanding home life, including caring for three young children and dealing with additional support needs, Stephanie consistently produced high-quality work while offering support to a diverse range of classmates. She also took on the role of student voice representative and led a class project to create a self- help booklet for new students, encouraging her peers to share their experiences and advice. The final booklet was so well received that UHI Argyll is now considering using it as a resource for future student cohorts. Her lecturer, William MacLeod, described her as “a shining example of a student in our college.”
Helen Smith:
Dunoon’s Helen has been selected as the winner of the Higher Education award, having completed her SVQ4 in Social Services and Healthcare an impressive four months ahead of schedule. Her assessor, Silvia Jost, praised Helen’s proactive approach to her studies, strong communication skills, and ability to apply theory to practice. Despite facing personal challenges during her studies, Helen ensured she stayed on track with deadlines, a real testament to her strength of character. Her early completion of the course, positive attitude and passion for learning make her a truly deserving recipient of this award.
If you would like to find out more about the wide range of opportunities available through UHI Argyll visit www.argyll.uhi. ac.uk
