UHI Argyll celebrates the 2026 Schools Link Students of the Year

UHI Argyll is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 Schools Link Student of the Year Awards, recognising exceptional achievement, commitment, and personal growth across our partner schools and subject areas. The awards celebrate young people who have embraced college-level learning while still at school, developing confidence, practical skills, and a clearer sense of their future pathways.

Schools Link courses offer pupils the chance to broaden their horizons, experience new subjects, and strengthen applications for further study or employment. This year’s winners represent the very best students across our region, showing dedication, resilience, and a positive influence on their classmates and learning environments.

Overall Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 – Islay

Morgan Brownlee – Construction Craft & Technician NPA

UHI Argyll is delighted to recognise Morgan Brownlee as the Overall Schools Link Student of the Year 2026. Having moved to Islay only recently, Morgan has settled in exceptionally well, emerging as a natural leader within his class. He consistently produces academic work of an outstanding standard and demonstrates real potential for advanced study. Morgan’s respectful, kind approach and his encouragement of others have made a meaningful impact on the classroom environment. His maturity and positive attitude make him a truly deserving winner. 

Arran Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 

Lily Keir – Higher Psychology

Arran’s winner, Lily Keir, stood out for her thoughtful contributions, collaborative spirit, and willingness to speak up in class, helping create a more confident and supportive learning environment for all. Highly organised and consistently high‑achieving, Lily is a natural leader with a bright future ahead. Having successfully completed Higher Psychology, she now hopes to pursue a career in Forensic Psychology.

Campbeltown Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 

Anya McNeillie – NPA Beauty Skills

Campbeltown’s winner, Anya McNeillie, is recognised for her outstanding practical ability and exemplary commitment to her studies. Her creative nail work has been consistently impressive, demonstrating precision, imagination, and growing technical confidence. Anya’s excellent attendance and supportive presence in class have contributed positively to the learning environment, and her confidence has flourished throughout the course.

Dunoon Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 

Alicia Bell – Early Learning and Childcare

Alicia Bell has been recognised for her consistently high‑quality work and thoughtful contributions in class. Even during challenging times, Alicia continued to apply herself, support her classmates, and bring kindness and determination to every lesson. Her lecturer praised her maturity and commitment throughout the course.

Lochgilphead Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 

Blair Gillies – Practical Experiences: Construction & Engineering

Lochgilphead’s winner, Blair Gillies, applied himself fully throughout his course - listening carefully, staying dedicated, and even taking on additional responsibilities such as cleaning, fixing equipment, and helping set up the classroom. Blair is known for supporting his classmates with clear, encouraging guidance. He represented the college impressively at a wind farm conference in Edinburgh, asking thoughtful, professional questions about the industry.

Oban Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 

Emma Walker – Higher Child Development

Emma Walker has been recognised as Oban’s Schools Link Student of the Year for her resilience, commitment, and excellent academic performance. After taking time to settle in, Emma quickly demonstrated a natural talent for the subject and was the first to submit her project coursework. Living on an island meant staying away from home during the week, yet Emma showed determination, kindness, and a strong work ethic throughout the course.

Rothesay Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 

Anzhelika Mohammad – Early Learning and Childcare

Congratulations to Anzhelika Mohammad, whose reliability, creativity, and strong subject understanding have earned her the Rothesay award. Anzhelika consistently produces high‑quality work, adding her own artistic flair while meeting every task’s requirements. Her imagination, effort, and mature outlook shine through in all she does, setting her up well for future study or employment.

Tarbert Schools Link Student of the Year 2026 

Rhys McCloskey – Foundation Apprenticeship: Creative Digital Media

Rhys McCloskey has been named Tarbert’s Schools Link Student of the Year for his consistently high-quality work throughout his two‑year Foundation Apprenticeship. Rhys excelled in collaborative projects, contributed thoughtfully to design discussions, and supported his peers with clarity and confidence. His lecturer praised his remarkable development, noting that by his second year he approached tasks with the independence and maturity expected in a professional setting.

These achievements highlight the dedication of our Schools Link pupils and the value of early access to college learning. UHI Argyll is proud of every winner and looks forward to supporting many more young people as they take their next steps toward further study, apprenticeships, and future careers.