College awards
Oatridge accolades
A student and lecturer at the Oatridge Campus of Scotland’s Rural College ( SRUC) have both been honoured with awards.
The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society presented Laura Keddie with the Carter- Patterson Memorial Award which is to a high achieving Horticulture student or apprentice while Ann Burns, Horticulture Team Leader, was presented with the Dr Andrew Duncan Medal in recognition of her distinguished service.
Laura made the move to horticulture as a career two years ago and is currently studying for an HNC in Horticulture at Oatridge, having passed a National Certificate in Horticulture with Garden Design with Distinction last year.
Ann Burns, Laura’s tutor at Oatridge said the award is well deserved.
She added: “Laura has that quality an employer should quickly recognise and make use of.”
Ann herself was presented with the Dr Andrew Duncan Medal – which is awarded for distinguished service to hor ti c u l t u re by an educationalist, adviser or administrator.
Ann said she was surprised and delighted with her award and acknowledged that it was thanks to every mentor, tutor, colleague and student that she had worked with over the years. Accepting her medal Ann said she is always keen to build on her learning.
She added: “Never stop learning about horticulture, plants and the world around you, the day you stop asking is the day you should hang up your spade.”
David James, head of education, added: “We are incredibly proud of the achievement of our student at such a prestigious award ceremony.
“It has been all the more special this year for SRUC as our long standing Horticulture Team Leader at Oatridge Ann Burns has been recognised once more for her outstanding contribution to the sector.”