Elgin Town Hall hosts UHI Moray graduation ceremony
Warm words of praise have been expressed about some inspirational UHI Moray students who graduated on Friday.
Elgin Town Hall was full both in the morning and afternoon as friends and family watched the ceremony with pride.
One of the biggest cheers of the day was reserved for Jacob McArthur, a 19-year-old from Forres who gained a HNC in coaching and development and was also the winner of the James Smith Award.
This prize is presented every year to the student who has shown outstanding dedication to their course.
A spokesperson for UHI Moray said: “Jacob has been with us for two years now and has shown incredible progress.
“He’s a pleasure to teach, a role model to our younger students and really well respected amongst his peers.”
There isn’t space to include every activity that Jacob has been involved in over the past two years.
However he volunteers both as a football coach at Elgin Sports Community Trust and as a young leader at the New Elgin Primary Youth Club. He even played a crucial role in setting up a UHI Moray football team.
The man himself said: “I’ve made so many friends here – friends for life.
“I also think studying here has made me more confident. I’ve got to know myself even better and learned about how to treat others.”
Jacob is now continuing his studies in Aberdeen. His long-term intention is to find a job that involves sports coaching.
Loud cheers were also heard when another student, Nathan Moir from Elgin, stepped onto the town hall stage to collect his Honours degree in Interactive Media.
The 24-year-old, who was there with his parents and girlfriend, said: “It feels a bit surreal to have finished after four years.
“I liked the course because it was so wide ranging, with everything from graphic design to computing.
“It offered a lot of scope for creativity but also for problem solving. It was a great mix.”
Another nominee for the James Smith Award was a woman who’s been forced to flee an invading Russian army not once but twice.
Valeriia Otorvina faced having to start life afresh when, in 2014, Putin annexed the Crimea which had hitherto been part of Ukraine. She hoped she’d escaped war but then, eight years later in 2022, the current conflict broke out.
After coming to Scotland, Valeriia enrolled as an art student at UHI Moray. She gained distinctions two years running in diploma courses, and has now now begun a four-year degree.
A spokesperson for UHI Moray said: “Her lecturers cannot say enough good things about Valeriia’s achievements, her exceptional work ethic and her friendly and warm personality. Like so many other Ukrainians, she was forced to flee her country to ensure the safety of both herself and her then two-year-old son, Platon.
“Despite the challenges and adversity she has faced Valeriia is always willing to support and help others.”
