UHI North, West and Hebrides graduate recognised with prestigious engineering award
Niamh Murray, 25, from Tain studied BEng (Hons) mechanical engineering at UHI North, West and Hebrides’ Thurso campus and is the 2023 recipient of the prestigious award.
The Prize for Engineering Excellence award, donated by Willie Printie, is awarded annually in recognition of academic excellence in engineering at degree level.
Winners are selected from graduating engineering students from across the UHI partnership who began their studies as apprentices and progressed on to further and higher education.
On accepting her award, Naimh said: “I am delighted to achieve this award. I started with LifeScan as an engineering apprentice and completed an HNC in engineering systems at UHI Inverness.
“It’s been a great opportunity to progress my practical skills/learning alongside my academic journey. I have just completed my BEng (Hons) degree in mechanical engineering and am now a maintenance engineer in LifeScan’s packaging department.”
Commenting on Niamh’s achievements, Willie Printie said: “Niamh epitomises exactly my thinking behind this annual award - starting her career as an apprentice, excelling at both further and higher levels of education and graduating at degree level in engineering through UHI.
“Her route to achieving a BEng (Hons) in mechanical engineering, while holding down a full-time job has been exemplary, and credit to LifeScan for allowing her the time to study whilst continuing to work.
“I hope in some small way this award recognises the significant investment Niamh has made in her academic development at UHI. The dedication to her studies is exceptional and truly deserving of this year’s Prize for Engineering Excellence.”
Lois Gray, engineering lecturer at UHI North, West and Hebrides said that with her enthusiasm, motivation and ability, Niamhhas proven herself to be a real attribute to her apprenticeship employer, and a pleasure to teach.
“Niamh commenced her studies with UHI in 2017. From the start, she was an exceptional student, achieving A passes at HNC and diploma levels. When she progressed to studying BEng (Hons), she excelled in her chosen discipline, mechanical engineering, culminating in her achieving a meritorious 1st class award.
“As a female engineer myself, I am personally delighted that Niamh has won the Prize for Engineering Excellence – she is an excellent role model for future female engineers. Dr Peter Hylton, Dr Juvenal Dufaur, and I, would like to congratulate her, and wish her all the best for a promising future.”
Further details on the range of scholarships, bursaries, awards and discretionary funds available can be found on the UHI website.
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