Paralympic athlete Kayleigh joins the Ayrshire College Hall of Fame
AN AYRSHIRE College graduate and accomplished athlete has been named as the ninth inductee of the College Development Network’s College Hall of Fame.
Kayleigh Haggo won three gold medals at the European Paralympic Youth Games.
She also set 13 world records and four national age group records in swimming, race running and club throw sports.
Kayleigh was also a contestant in this year’s world Boccia tournament in Poland, and is a graduate of Ayrshire College, where she secured an HNC in coaching and developing sport.
Her induction into the College Hall of Fame highlights and recognises the outstanding contribution that college graduates and staff make to society and the economy; and demonstrates the variety of pathways to success from college.
Kayleigh has also been recognised by the National Union of Students (NUS) in their ‘Inspire Her Future’ initiative, which is a priority campaign for NUS Scotland Women’s Committee.
The campaign works to inspire and empower women students in areas where they are under-represented.
Kayleigh said: “I am incredibly grateful for Ayrshire College and everything they have done for me during that year.
“Being involved in the hall of fame, it just means so much to me, because when I was at college I was included within every aspect of the course, whereas previously at school I wasn’t included as much in practical sports sessions in PE.
“I really felt a sense of belonging and I felt like I was there to learn.”
She has been further recognised by various organisations with awards.
They include Ayrshire Sportsability’s Young Athlete of the Year; The Herald Higher Education Awards’ Outstanding Contribution from a Student (finalist); YoungScot Unsung Hero (finalist); College Candidate
Kayleigh won three gold medals at the Games and set 13 world records of the Year Award at the SQA Star Awards 2017 (finalist); winner of the Rising Star Diversity Award at The Herald and GenAnalytics Diversity Awards 2017; and winner of the Vocational Award at the British Education Awards 2018.
These achievements also earned Kayleigh a place in the YWCA’s prestigious ‘30 Under 30’ list for 201.
The list highlights the achievements of young women in Scotland who are doing significant work across the country.
She is also the Youth Ambassador for Ayrshire Sportsability which involves touring around Ayrshire schools, businesses and other organisations to talk about the benefits of participation in sport for people with disabilities.
Since graduating Kayleigh has completed her degree in sports coaching and development at the University of the West of Scotland, and now works as the disability sport inclusion officer at the Girvan Community Sports Hub.