Winners

Higher Education Student of the Year 2022 – John Frace

Dunoon student, John Frace has been named as UHI Argyll’s Higher Education Student of the Year 2022 in recognition of his voluntary work in creating and maintaining Scotland’s Coronavirus Tracker website, alongside his university studies.

John has just completed a Business and Management BA (Hons) degree with UHI, and in 2020 completed a HNC in Digital Design and Web Development with UHI Argyll, which he praises for the success of his Covid tracker website. To date, the website has attracted over 2.5 million users, and at the height of lockdown had over 1,000 people logging on every day for the 3pm update. The website has proved to be an invaluable resource to healthcare professionals, and John was contacted by the Office for National Statistics, the National Records of Scotland, and Public Health Scotland, all of whom heaped praise on John’s work.

In 2021 John created an Argyll Tracker to give detailed information on a micro regional basis. This site, along with the Scotland Tracker, are now updated weekly.

Last year John received a Herald Higher Education award in the category Outstanding Contribution from a University Student. Earlier this year he received an MBE in the Queen’s Jubilee Honours List, and was inducted in the College Development Network Hall of Fame.

Further Education Student of the Year 2022 - Ben Collins

Nominated by both of his course lecturers, Ben has this year completed the SWAP Access to Nursing programme with UHI Argyll and has been described as an ‘exemplar student’.

After leaving school at 15, Ben initially pursued a career in hairdressing but a few years later, changed paths and joined the NHS as a Clinical Support Worker. His work within the A&E Department saw him develop many transferrable skills and it was here that many of his colleagues suggested he considered a career in nursing.

With personal difficulties to overcome, the access course has been a challenge for Ben but it is fair to say that nursing is in his blood; his mother and sister are both qualified nurses and his father is a paramedic.

Ben has been a great support and role model to fellow students, showing them great compassion and encouragement during stressful times, even treating them to his homemade baked goods, especially on assessment days!

Now ready for the next stage of his studies, Ben has been accepted on to the Adult Nursing programme at the University of the West of Scotland.

Schools Link Student of the Year 2022 - Clara Goodfellow Crichton

Clara is a student at Hermitage Academy in Helensburgh, who undertook a National 5 course in Hairdressing with UHI Argyll as part of our schools link programme.

Nominated for the award by her lecturer, Kerry Hird, Clara is described as a generous and helpful student who always goes out of her way to assist others. She has been a great support to her fellow classmates, always approaching every task with a smile, and has grown in confidence over the year.

Clara has excelled in her practical and theory work, which she has tackled with enthusiasm and determination. Her lecturer described her as a joy to teach and a real asset to the class.

2022 Student of the Year Nominees