PRESS
RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28th
November 2012
City of Glasgow College honours Paralympian
A
Paralympian who turned tragedy into sporting triumph has been honoured at City
of Glasgow College’s annual graduation ceremony.
Mick
Kerr, who was part of Team GB’s Wheelchair Rugby team, received the Alumnus of
the Year Award in recognition of his remarkable achievement. Mick, from
Uddingston, was studying Health and Fitness a decade ago when he was seriously
injured in a diving accident during a summer holiday. Despite the tragic
accident, he refused to give up on his passion for sport and decided to take up
wheelchair rugby – famed for its aggressive, exhausting style of play. The
award was handed to Mick during City of Glasgow College’s morning graduation
ceremony on Monday (26th November 2012) in the city’s Royal Concert
Hall.
Mick
commented: “It’s been almost 12 years since I was a student at the college but
ever since then they’ve been there for me offering support and allowing me to
do bits and pieces such as using the training facilities. To receive this award
really is a massive honour. It’s just nice to see my achievements recognised.
I’ve visited the college regularly recently to speak to students and I hope
that I can inspire them to go out and achieve their goals.”
Spread
over two events, more than 800 students will celebrate their graduation in
courses as wide ranging as construction, computing and care.
For
brother and sister, Martin and Nicola Gigli, from Clydebank, art and design
clearly runs in the blood. 28 year old Martin graduated with an HND in
Production Design, while his sister received an HND in Interior Design. 25 year
old Nicola said: “It was actually really good going to college at the same time
as my brother. We didn’t try to avoid each other. In fact, we actually gave
each other a lot of support because our courses were similar. We’re now both
studying for degrees at Glasgow Caledonian University. We haven’t talked yet
about going into business together after University but you never know!”
Other
award winners on the day included social and human rights campaigner Denis
Goldberg, who was imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela during South Africa’s
apartheid years. Goldberg received the Global Scholar Award from City of
Glasgow College after speaking to staff and students in an inspirational speech
last year.
Paying
tribute to all of the graduates and award winners, Principal of City of Glasgow
College, Paul Little, commented: “I’m incredibly proud of the level of
commitment shown by the learners at City of Glasgow College. Many of these
students are young men and women who have just begun their career journeys, yet
they display so much majority and passion for their subjects. Some will go on
to continue their studies at university, while others are now preparing to
break into their respective industries. Through our strong partnerships and
initiatives that have created some of the best further education teaching in
the UK, I’m confident each and every one of the graduates will go on to great
things and I wish them all the very best of luck.”
-ENDS-
Image
1: (R-L) City
of Glasgow College Principal Paul Little presents Paralympian Mick Kerr with
the Alumnus of the Year Award.
Image
2: Dennis
Goldberg addresses the crowd after accepting the Global Scholar Award.
Image
3: Principal
Paul Little congratulates one graduate.
Image
4: A group of
graduates celebrate their success.
Image
5: Wide-shot
of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall during the graduation ceremony.
For
more information please contact:
Brian O’Neill, Halogen Communications, t: 0131 202 0120 e: brian@halogencom.com
