Tag: graduations 2025

Scottish wheelchair basketball star awarded doctorate

Paralympian first took up the sport at ENU

Pioneering wheelchair basketball star Robyn Love has paid tribute to the place where her sporting career began, after being awarded an honorary doctorate by Edinburgh Napier University (ENU).

Since graduating from ENU with a degree in Biomedical Science in 2013, the 34-year-old from Ayr has represented Great Britain at three Paralympic Games – in Rio, Tokyo and Paris – captained Team Scotland at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and won silver and bronze medals at European and World Championships.

Born with arthrogryposis, a condition affecting muscle development, Robyn took up basketball during her time at ENU, where she was Edinburgh Napier Students’ Association vice president, captain of the women’s basketball team, and president of the LGBTQ+ society.

She has continued to champion equality and accessibility in her roles as a director at Basketball Scotland, an LGBTQ+ ambassador with the British Elite Athlete Association.

Robyn’s honorary doctorate is awarded as she prepares to represent Scotland on home soil in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

She was formally presented with the degree during a graduation ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on Friday [11 July], celebrating alongside her fiancé and teammate Laurie Williams.

Responding to the award of her honorary doctorate, Robyn said: “I’m deeply honoured to receive this recognition from the very institution where my journey truly began.

“It was here that I first picked up a basketball and discovered wheelchair sport – a moment that sparked a decade-long career representing Great Britain on the international stage.

“Alongside my sporting journey, I’ve been proud to advocate for the LGBT community, striving to create spaces where everyone can be seen, valued and empowered to thrive – much like my experience at Edinburgh Napier.

“This honorary doctorate is not just a celebration of achievement, but a reminder of the power of education, opportunity, and inclusion to transform lives.”

Presenting the degree, Professor Susan Brown, from ENU’s School of Applied Sciences said: “Robyn’s story reflects ambition, professionalism, inclusivity and innovation – each a cornerstone of our university’s values.

“She is a powerful role model for our graduates, reminding us that adversity can be a catalyst for greatness, and that leadership comes in many forms.

“Robyn has broken boundaries and redefined what is possible – not just for herself, but for the communities she represents. Her ambition drives her to excel, her professionalism is evident in her leadership and advocacy, inclusivity is at the heart of all she does, and her innovative spirit turns challenges into opportunities.”

From zookeeper to new teacher: Kirsty celebrates second Edinburgh Napier graduation

A zookeeper turned secondary school teacher is swapping the penguin enclosure for the classroom after ‘coming home’ to graduate from Edinburgh Napier University for a second time.

Kirsty Dow collected a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the Usher Hall on Wednesday 9 July – exactly a decade on from completing her degree in animal biology!

Having held several roles at Edinburgh Zoo, including as its head of penguins, the 33-year-old from Edinburgh developed a passion for education while putting on tours for groups of young people.

When she decided to retrain as a secondary school teacher to fit her career around her young family, Edinburgh Napier University was the only place for her.

Kirsty said: “I had done bits of education at the zoo – taking tours and showing groups of children around. I found I was becoming much more confident about speaking to large groups and started to really enjoy it. I just thought, ‘hey, I’m quite good at this!’

“Teaching is something which had been in the back of my mind for a few years. However, I’d previously spoken to friends who had done a PGDE and warned that it was challenging, so I’d put it off for a wee while.

“But then I just took the leap and left my job at the zoo.

“Edinburgh Napier was the only place I applied for, because I love it so much. I really enjoyed my time here. It was less scary because it felt like home.

“I had always thought about becoming a teacher but never had to confidence to go for it.

“Even after the first day, I knew it was the right decision. My fellow teachers are wonderful, and I feel like it is my true calling. It is an absolute dream come true.”

Part of Kirsty’s motivation to change career was the expected arrival of her second child – having welcomed her son, Artie, into the world in 2020.

Kirsty added: “When I found out I was pregnant again, I decided that I needed a better life for our children.

“I knew teacher training was going to be tough, and I was worried about telling the University about my pregnancy, but the lecturers couldn’t have been more supportive.

“I completed 6 months of the course and then had to suspend my studies when we welcomed baby Primrose. I had a full year off but kept in touch with University as I had made wonderful connections – I’d go in with Prim to meet them for coffee!

“Resuming studies was extremely intimidating. Especially since I was heading straight into my third teaching placement. But ENU was there to support me, and it was such a personal experience.”

As Kirsty graduates, she is now preparing to start work as a biology teacher at the beginning of the next school year.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the course,” she said. “We were taught how to teach, rather than just the theory of it.

“Right from week six we were in a classroom seeing how it’s done. We got so much practical experience.

“I would advise anyone like me who has had teaching in the back of their mind to go for it.”

Kirsty joined fellow students from ENU’s School of Applied Sciences in celebrating their graduation on Wednesday at the Usher Hall. Over the next three days, around 2,300 new graduates will be formally presented with their qualifications.

Edinburgh Napier launched its PGDE courses in 2018 as part of an effort to train more teachers in Scotland, and now offers students the opportunity to complete the qualification across a range of different subjects.

‘You’d better not let me stop you’: new graduate dedicates degree to late mum

Connor Smith has marked his graduation from Edinburgh Napier University

An Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) student has described how his mum gave him the motivation to complete his degree – as he graduates a few months after losing her to cancer.

Connor Smith, from Loanhead in Midlothian, has become the first in his family to graduate from university after being presented with his degree in Social Sciences at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall today.

The 30-year-old has described how the loss of his mum, Fiona, has given him the drive to use his education to help people. She passed away in January of this year, around seven months after her illness was discovered.

He said: “It happened towards the end of my third year. Mum chummed me along to pick out an engagement ring on a Saturday, then found about her cancer on the Monday.

“I don’t think I really processed it at the time. It didn’t feel real. You always think your mum will be around forever.

“She went from a healthy normal life to passing away from cancer so suddenly. Seeing her at the hospice while I was finishing my degree was near impossible.

“I thought about putting my studies on hold. I spoke to my personal development tutor, who was really helpful at setting out the options that were available to me.

“But I remember speaking to my mum as her health was deteriorating and she said, “you’d better not let me stop you from finishing your degree”. So I decided to keep going.

“She was immensely proud of what I was doing. She was such a selfless person – she’d do anything for her kids and her grandkids.”

Connor was joined at the Usher Hall by his partner and two children, after crossing the stage alongside fellow students from ENU’s School of Applied Sciences.

It marks the end of a six-year educational journey for him, which began at college and took an unexpected path.

He is now hoping to go into education or the charity sector to help others find their passion.

Connor added: “I was stuck in dead-end jobs and feeling really unfulfilled at work. It was when I was doing nightshifts that I decided to try and do something about it.

“I left school with one higher and didn’t think university would be something that I would ever do.

“I initially wanted to do criminology, with an eye on maybe going into the police. But once I started social sciences at college, I found that I really enjoyed it – and decided to keep doing it at Edinburgh Napier.

“I became a dad at 18 and had to grow up very quickly. Since then, my attitude to education has changed completely. Now I feel like I know what I want in life and education is going to help me get there.”

While Connor has become the first in his family to go to university, he won’t be on his own for long.

“My sister is starting her studies at Edinburgh Napier this year,” he said. “She’ll be at Sighthill too – the same campus as me.

“I feel proud to be the first in the family to go to uni, especially as she’s doing it right after me. Mum would be so proud of us.

“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. I got through it, and that’s the main thing. As long as I know that I’ve tried my best, that’s all that matters.

“I think I’ve shown there’s more than one way to get to university. There’s a lot of pressure when you’re young to choose one thing or another, but I feel like I can help people who are trying to decide their future.”

Edinburgh Napier University’s summer graduation ceremonies are being held at the Usher Hall from 9-11 July.