Tag: degree

Different class: Hibs captain picks up degree from Edinburgh Napier

Paul Hanlon has graduated with distinction – and added a medal to his collection

Hibernian captain Paul Hanlon has collected a different kind of silverware – marking his outstanding academic performance – after graduating from Edinburgh Napier University.

The 33-year-old footballer completed his BA Business and Enterprise in Sport with Distinction, and won the class medal in recognition of outstanding academic performance.

After three years of study on the programme, which is designed specifically for athletes, the Scotland international picked up his degree during a ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall yesterday.

Reflecting on his time with ENU, Paul said: “Studying has helped massively in dealing with the pressure of sport. It has given me a separate focus away from football.

“The course was a real eye-opener. It took a bit of getting used to. Things like the academic way of writing and reading were completely new to me.

“In football, things are black and white. Suddenly, I had to understand a bit more about dealing with grey areas – forming opinions and backing them up.

“At first it was nerve-racking! I left school a long time ago, so hadn’t done anything like this for a while.

“There is that daunting aspect of getting started, but the support you get here is amazing.”

Paul completed his programme as a Dual Career student – which allows athletes, or people working in sport, to fit their studies around their professional career.

During his time with ENU’s School of Applied Sciences, Paul won his first Scotland cap, and was named club captain at Hibs, all while competing at the top level of Scottish football.

The 2016 Scottish Cup winner says the course has opened new paths he could take when the time comes to hang up his boots. He said: “I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do once I finish playing, but this helps me cover a lot of bases. I feel well prepared.

“There were modules which helped with leadership and coaching, while others dealt with the business side of the game.

“It has given me a new confidence and determination to keep learning. I’m now doing the Applied Football Management course at ENU because of this – I don’t want to stop.

“I don’t think I would be like that now if it wasn’t for this course.”

Dr Tom Campbell, Programme Lead for BA Business & Enterprise in Sport said: “Paul has set a fantastic example to our Dual Career students.

“During his time with us, he has displayed outstanding academic performance, all while competing at such a high level in his sport.

“We have a strong track record of supporting athletes through their studies, and it is pleasing to see Paul develop his thirst for knowledge with us.”

Edinburgh Napier’s autumn graduation ceremonies are being held from 24 – 26 October at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.

New graduate says the teenage brother she lost will be her lifelong inspiration

“Hopes were fading for Calum but he wouldn’t let me give up on my degree“

A STUDENT who lost her younger brother to cancer has vowed to use his zest for life as a neverending source of inspiration as she graduated with honours.

Kate Turner’s final year at Edinburgh Napier was turned upside down after her only sibling Calum was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a fast growing cancer of the lymphatic system.

The brave 16-year-old urged his big sister not to give up on her studies and said he would be at her graduation whatever happened, but as the disease took its cruel toll he lost his fight for life in January.

Motivated by his words of encouragement, Kate pushed on with her course work, seeking only a deferral for her dissertation which she dedicated to “Calum, my inspiration in life and my best friend”.

And as the 23-year-old reached the end of her academic journey today, walking across the Usher Hall stage to collect her BA (Hons) in Psychology with Sociology, she said Calum’s courage and love of life would continue to motivate her – starting with the ‘bucket list’ of activities he had asked his family to perform in his memory.

Kate, of Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, said: “Calum was so true to himself and unapologetic for it. His passion was music and art, and at 6ft 4ins he already stood out and with the tartan docs, bright coloured beanie hats and ever-changing hair colour, he always made a statement. He was quick-witted, loved a debate and had the ability to make us laugh for hours and hours. For one so young he did so much in life.”

Calum, a volunteer worker with local charity Sauchie Community Group, was diagnosed with cancer two months before Kate began her final year. He had been losing weight fast and was unable to walk even a short distance without sitting down. He was admitted to Forth Valley Royal Hospital and then moved to the Beatson Centre in Glasgow where he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Burkitt lymphoma.

Over six gruelling roller-coaster months in hospital, including intensive chemotherapy, there were moments when his family were told to prepare for the worst but by October he had been given the all-clear.  However, the cancer returned and on December 23 last year medics told his loved ones there was no more they could do.

Kate said: “Calum insisted on coming home to spend Christmas with us, and we just spent the next two weeks as a family until he passed away on January 5.”

During his illness, Calum had encouraged Kate to keep going and get her degree.

She said: “My graduation was something we had discussed a lot along with his prom in June this year – they were things we were both holding on to. When he was first admitted, he phoned me telling me he didn’t want to miss my graduation, and that he would be there no matter what. As things got worse, university didn’t seem a priority but Calum told me it was and I wasn’t allowed to quit.

“When he passed away it was an immediate reaction to leave and not face going back to my studies, however his words kept going round in my mind and I knew I had to finish it for both of us.

“Edinburgh Napier teaching staff were incredibly sympathetic and supportive, and I was given a deferral for my dissertation which really saved me from not being able to continue. I made it over the line and I am now looking for a job in the third sector where I can use my experience working with the community and my knowledge from my degree for a good cause.”

In her University dissertation, Kate wrote the following in the Acknowledgements; “To my brother, Calum, thank you for teaching me that creativity can be expressed in a million different ways and for always reminding me that staying inside the box is boring.

“At 16 years young, you taught me life has no limits when you are fearless and brave and accept yourself for who you are. Thank you for being the motivation for absolutely everything I do and will continue to do in the future.

“This is the finish line you always encouraged me to reach, although it’s not together, this one’s for you Calum, my inspiration in life and my best friend.”

Kate said yesterday that, despite the age difference of five and a half years, she and Calum had been best friends and his relentless enthusiasm and selfless attitude would continue to inspire her as she makes her way through life.

She added: “Calum gave us a bucket list of things to do in his memory like going to Japan to see the cherry blossoms. I plan to start working through that as soon as we can and celebrate his life while I do.”

Dr Elli Drake, Kate’s Personal Development Tutor at Edinburgh Napier, said: “Kate had already shown herself to be an exceptional student well before her brother’s diagnosis. 

“As a student she brought her home community and the Napier community together.  Her family had long been involved in Sauchie Community Centre.  On the Volunteering and Employability module at Napier, she designed and conducted a consultation process for the centre which contributed to significant funding being awarded for the benefit of the people of Sauchie – an amazing achievement. 

“The strength of character, determination to find the positives and community-spiritedness that Kate demonstrated during that project were brought home when she faced the illness and loss of her brother. 

“She continued to be an inspiration throughout that time, with a life-affirming spirit that lives on today in testament to Calum, herself, her family and the communities to which she continues to contribute.”  

Rugby star and graduate – Jamie gets the best of both worlds

Scottish rugby 7s star Jamie Farndale has been awarded a first class honours degree after a nine-year academic journey which he has combined with a career in elite international sport.

The 27-year-old got the best of both worlds thanks to Edinburgh Napier’s Dual Career approach which allows talented athletes to balance their studies with a hectic sporting schedule.

Now he has graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Business Management after also competing in under-20 World Cups, playing for Edinburgh Rugby, captaining Scotland 7s and finishing top try scorer at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Jamie, who is also Director of Rugby Players Scotland, a company established to represent professional players, said: “The university I was supposed to go to told me I had to choose between university or rugby, but at Edinburgh Napier lecturers have gone massively out of their way to accommodate me.

“Training or competing abroad almost always clashed with lectures, tutorials and exams, and I had to work hard to catch up, and even had to re-sit entire modules due to missing exams.

“What made a difficult task possible was the eagerness to help which I experienced. Lectures were recorded so I could catch up in the evenings, some academics met with me to provide one-on-one tutoring, and others set me different exam assessments to cover times when I was abroad.”

Former Edinburgh Academy pupil Jamie, who was a Scottish Schools Cup winner at U15 and U18 level, has gained a reputation as a potent attacking threat from the wing, despite suffering an early career leg break.  He is also an accomplished piper.

During his part-time studies at Edinburgh Napier, in 2017, he scored the winning try for the national 7s team with the clock in the red to enable them to complete an amazing comeback from 21-0 down and become the first Scotland side to beat a team from New Zealand.

In the following year’s 7s World Cup in San Francisco, he again scored a try after the full-time hooter to seal a 31-26 comeback win over Kenya before running over 100 metres to score the try in extra time that saw Scotland beat France.

Jamie said: “Having been able to study towards a degree while playing at the highest level instead of having to wait to complete my studies first has given me such a head start and allowed me the best chance in my rugby career. I am forever grateful to everyone at Edinburgh Napier.

“I hope I still have three or four years left of professional rugby but I will use the time I put into studying to try to get involved in some work-based projects, perhaps in sustainability. Long term, I may look to continue my studies with an MBA or maybe some professional qualifications such as a CA.”

Dr Stephen Robertson, lecturer in Edinburgh Napier’s Business School, worked closely with Jamie during his time at the University and supervised his dissertation.

He said: “Jamie was often on the other side of the world, and working with him over the years taught me what is possible with remote learning. As a second year he used lecture recordings originally created to support dyslexic students to stay up to date with his class and actually finished with the highest scores.

“What Jamie has achieved in his studies is outstanding. What he’s achieved on the field is incredible. That he’s managed to do both at the same time says a lot about his focus, attention to detail and work ethic.”

Pictures: SNS/Scottish Rugby