Laura Goodwin’s book is out a few days after collecting her degree at the Usher Hall
An Edinburgh Napier screenwriting student has had two reasons to celebrate her graduation – as it coincides with the publication of her debut novel.
Laura Goodwin began writing ‘One Last Mission’ in 2022 before beginning her course at ENU, where she was able to hone her storytelling craft.
The 28-year-old from Ayr says working on the book – which she describes as ‘James Bond meets Hamlet’ – gave her an extra creative outlet alongside her coursework.
Laura said: “I’ve always been writing stories and scripts since I was a young kid.I’m neurodiverse and my brain is constantly overthinking everything. I was hyperfixating during lockdown in 2020 when I came up with the idea for this book, fully-formed.
“I finally completed the novel, all 150,000 words and 425 pages of it, in April this year.”
After finishing the book, Laura had it published, and brought one of the first copies along to her graduation ceremony at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall.
As for her studies, Laura hopes the year-long MA Screenwriting programme will help give her a springboard into the production side of film and television.
Laura Goodwin Graduated in MA Screen Writing and is about to publish her first novel “One Last Mission’ at Edinburgh Napier University.
She added: “I sent in my application 12 hours before the deadline, two days after discovering the degree existed.The course was a lot of work but it was great. It solidified what I want to do and made me feel like I made the right choice.
“I can’t put into words how proud of myself I am that after everything I’ve managed to get to a place in my life where I’ve achieved this.
“Not only am I graduating with a masters degree, my debut novel will be published and available to the world five days later.”
One Last Mission is available to buy from 31 October – and Laura already has plans to write another novel!
As over 1,900 students and 6,600 guests make their way to the Usher Hall in Edinburgh to attend their graduation ceremony, Edinburgh Napier will once again be taking over one of Edinburgh’s oldest pubs, Shakespeare’s on Lothian Road.Rebranding as The Napier Graduate in honour of the university’s class of ’23, this time graduates will also be able to celebrate with a pint of Edinburgh Napier’s very own ale, ‘Must Be Napier’, to toast their success.
The beer name, ‘Must Be Napier’ references Edinburgh Napier University’s current brand campaign that is shining a spotlight on the achievements and major contributions to society of the University’s students, staff, and alumni.
Following the success of the summer takeover of the iconic pub, for three days only from Tuesday 24 October to Thursday 26 October, Shakespeare’s will once again be known as The Napier Graduate. The pub has been decked out in red Napier livery, changing everything from the outdoor signs to the beermats, making it the perfect spot for graduates to celebrate with family and friends.
For those celebrating with a drink, when at the bar graduates and patrons alike will spot Napier along the selection of beer taps, with the university having its very own ale, ‘Must Be Napier’ alongside the usual selection of drinks.
Over the three days, Edinburgh Napier University will be celebrating with five ceremonies, honoring the graduates of all five of the University’s Schools. Those walking down Lothian Road won’t be able to miss the celebrations, with the original Shakespeare’s signage completely replaced with Napier’s distinctive red branding.
Earlier this year, Edinburgh Napier took over Shakespeare’s for the first time to highlight the University’s pride in their graduates and offering congratulations on their success.
Izzy Polson, General Manager of Shakespeare’ssaid: “Following the takeover earlier this year we saw a record number of people visit for a celebratory drink. We are thrilled to be able to help with the celebrations and delighted to be rebranded as The Napier Graduate once again, to help make it a memorable graduation!
“We loved seeing people’s surprise at the new look Shakespeare’s over graduation week and hope we can bring the same amount of joy this time round.”
“This time, as our graduates embark on their next chapter after university, graduates and their guests who choose to can have a pint of ‘Must Be Napier’, or any of the other refreshments on offer, to toast all their incredible accomplishments.”
The Napier Graduate is open from Tuesday 24 October to Thursday 26 October 2023 at 65 Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2DJ.
“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.”
Edinburgh Napier celebrates graduates of 2020 and 2021
Edinburgh Napier celebrates the graduates of 2020 and 2021 by taking over the capital for a graduation with a twist
A unique city-wide takeover will showcase Edinburgh Napier’s graduate names across billboards, bus stops, trams and more
With physical graduation ceremonies being cancelled for the second year in a row, Edinburgh Napier University is today (26th July 2021) launching their ‘city takeover’ to celebrate the success of hundreds of students who missed out on their traditional graduation ceremonies.
The names of the University’s recent graduates will cover billboards, bus stops, a classic Edinburgh taxi and even a tram in tribute to those who were unable to receive their degree at the Usher Hall because of the pandemic.
This summer’s graduation ceremonies and last year’s summer and autumn ceremonies were all cancelled due to Covid-19 related restrictions, disappointing students who had put in years of hard work only to be denied their traditional day of celebration.
However, the University was determined to find alternative ways to salute the achievements of the graduates of 2020 and 2021, who had overcome the most challenging study conditions in living memory to reach their goals.
The city takeover, from July to late August, will see the names of graduates from all six academic Schools displayed across 18 billboards and 100 bus stops, accompanied by messages underlining the University’s pride in them and offering congratulations on their success.
Strategically placed around the capital, graduates can find their names via the ‘Find My Billboard’ feature on the University website by using their student number to pinpoint the site displaying their name.
Locations will be linked to academic disciplines: School of Health & Social Care names will be near hospitals, School of Arts & Creative Industries names near arts venues and School of Computing names near tech industry sites.
The takeover campaign will be captured on film and complemented by social media coverage with dedicated #NapierNames and local radio advertising.
Students who missed out on the traditional day of celebration at the Usher Hall are also getting the chance to come on to the Craiglockhart campus to have gowned-up pictures with family and friends taken by the University’s regular graduation services partner so they have a permanent souvenir.
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal & Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “The last 16 months have presented students with formidable challenges as they have had to adjust to different ways of learning while coping with all of the disruption the pandemic has caused to our normal way of life.
“Our graduates have shown enormous resilience and strength of character in completing their studies during this period of upheaval and we wanted to show them just how proud we are of what they have achieved.
“It’s a huge achievement to graduate and we wanted to give students the same euphoria you get when your names called out on stage.”
CASE STUDIES
Hayley Kane, 24, BSc Animal and Conservation Biology graduate
A student who was diagnosed with a rare cancer at a key point in her studies has successfully graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a first class honours degree.
Hayley Kane recovered from the devastating news, and two operations, to complete her BSc (Hons) in Animal and Conservation Biology – even though at times she had to leave lectures to change her dressing following radiotherapy treatment.
Hayley, of Fairmilehead in Edinburgh, was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma shortly before her third year assessments started – although she only learned about it after it had been removed. The rare form of cancer develops in cells around joints and tendons, often near the knee, and is most commonly associated with young adults.
Hayley had had issues with her knee for almost a decade, which worsened to a point where she was in constant pain and struggling to walk without crutches.
The 24-year-old is now set to continue her studies in September with an MSc in Statistical Ecology at St Andrews University.
Hayley said: “I’m thrilled to have completed my degree and I hope my experience will serve as inspiration to other students who may be struggling due to external factors.
“It is possible to overcome hardships and achieve your goals as long as you are willing to work for it.”
Dr Gavin Ballantyne, lecturer in Edinburgh Napier’s School of Applied Sciences, said: “Hayley has done brilliantly at Edinburgh Napier. Not only has she overcome serious health issues, but she’s also remained engaged, motivated and has produced an excellent final year project.
“We’re so pleased to see her graduate with a first-class degree and now go on to start an MSc at St Andrews.”
Hashani Gunasekera, 28, MBA Business Administration graduate
A new Edinburgh Napier graduate’s path to an MBA was almost wrecked by Sri Lanka’s horrific Easter bombings.
Health management student Hashani Gunasekera was finalising her research proposal for her online course when suicide bombers claimed the lives of 269 people in Sri Linka on April 21 2019.
The atrocity sparked widespread tension on the South Asian island and a security crackdown which included a ban on public use of the internet.
Then, just as the situation was stabilising, along came the Covid pandemic which forced Hashani to defer her research into patients undergoing elective surgery so she could work on the hospital frontline.
In a year in which no graduate had it easy, the 28-year-old has many reasons to be proud of the Masters in Business Administration (Health Management) she was finally awarded this week by Edinburgh Napier.
Hashani said: “Completing my MBA has been a physical and mental struggle so I am very proud to have got over the line, with particular thanks to my supervisor Libby Campbell, who showed the utmost support throughout all these crises.”
Hashani’s course was delivered by the University in partnership with the Sri Lanka-based Business Management School, and Edinburgh Napier teaching staff travelled to South Asia for the orientation programme and some lectures.
Hashani is now working as a medical officer in a government hospital in Sri Lanka, a role which combines medical and administrative work.
Libby Campbell, lecturer in Edinburgh Napier’s School of Health & Social Care, said: “Hashani should be proud of herself, achieving an MBA from Edinburgh Napier and doing so entirely online, when it was available, while working in frontline healthcare, during a major incident and its fallout, and during the pandemic.
“I’m glad I was able to help support her and I wish her well for the future.”
Adrian and Jasmine show that academic success runs in the family
AN award-winning Edinburgh Napier researcher and his daughter have completed a graduation family double.
Adrian Smales, 52, who first attended the university in 1992, returned here to do a PhD in Healthcare Informatics.
And his second time around graduation this week has coincided with 22-year-old daughter Jasmine being awarded a first class BMus (Hons) music degree.
Adrian, from Lasswade, said: “Jasmine is very independent and didn’t need much guidance from me during her course, but we did meet up for the occasional coffee at the Merchiston campus which was always nice.
“Now we hope to celebrate our double graduation with a barbeque with family and friends.”
Adrian originally graduated from the University with a B Eng (Hons) in electronic and computer engineering in 1998.
He returned to Edinburgh Napier to research a PhD thesis titled ‘Test-bed and evaluation of a home-based adverse event prediction infrastructure‘. He has won a string of awards for his work, which in simple terms prevents falls in the home by predicting the increasing risk of significant inactivity, and has led to the development of wearable technology in collaboration with commercial partners.
Jasmine, though like her father a well-known face at Merchiston, has gone down a different academic route.
She said: “I was drawn to the music course at Edinburgh Napier because of its versatility and wide range of module choices. In the past academic year I have written an inclusive music guide for children, and for my final project I have written and created a demo EP that explores mental health.”
A student nurse has been honoured for her caring skills after impressing colleagues with the way she handled sensitive situations at both a small community hospital and a busy city emergency department.Continue reading Caring nurse Mhairi honoured at graduations
ONE of Scotland’s leading champions of literature and literary tourism was honoured by Edinburgh Napier University yesterday.
Ali Bowden, Director of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust, was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of her contribution to the promotion of reading, writing and literary heritage.
University of Stirling graduate Ali enjoyed a ten-year career in publishing with Polygon Books and Edinburgh University Press before becoming Director of the Trust in 2006.
She has played a key role in establishing and developing Edinburgh as a UNESCO City of Literature and founding city in a global network of creative cities.
Passionate about promoting Edinburgh as a literary city, Ali has created projects ranging from community-based writers’ residencies and international exchanges to Scotland’s first citywide reading campaign, the award-winning Great Scott! installation in Waverley railway station honouring Sir Walter Scott, and the Stars & Stories trail of illuminated quotations celebrating 500 years of Edinburgh’s publishing heritage.
In 2011, the City of Literature Trust joined forces with Edinburgh Napier to launch the annual Robert Louis Stevenson Day, the first of many collaborative projects with the University.
The hard work continues, with Ali’s current focus being the creation of a Literature House at John Knox House, as part of a wider development of the Literary Quarter on the Royal Mile. Scheduled to open in 2022, the Literature House is an ambitious project that will be a point of transformation for Edinburgh as a UNESCO City of Literature in terms of profile, access and engagement.
Today, she joined hundreds of students at the School of Arts & Creative Industries graduation ceremony in the Usher Hall to receive her Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters.
Ali, 46, said: “I am delighted and truly honoured to receive recognition of this kind. My work over the years has never been easy but has always been interesting, diverse and stimulating.
“Edinburgh is an outstanding UNESCO City of Literature and it’s a joy to play a part in supporting the reading and writing communities here, and connecting our literary city with like-minded cities around the world.”
Professor Andrea Nolan, Principal of Edinburgh Napier University, said: “Edinburgh is a city which is rich in literary heritage, from Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson to the Rebus novels of Ian Rankin, and as the birthplace of JK Rowling’s Boy Wizard, Harry Potter.
“Ali Bowden has spearheaded the drive to make reading part of our lives while promoting the city’s literary connections on the global stage, and it is a pleasure to have her join our celebrations today.”
A WOMAN who was widowed at the age of just 35 has graduated from Edinburgh Napier University, with the cheers of her late husband’s friends ringing in her ears.
Frances Ryan lost the love of her life and her dreams of motherhood when Paul Ryan, who she had met by chance in a shop in Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, died suddenly of a heart attack in 2009.
The couple had been married just four years, and Paul’s death plunged Frances into mourning and put all her future plans on hold.
Her fightback began when she did a Masters course, and she was then offered the chance to pursue a PhD in the School of Computing at Edinburgh Napier, where she had earlier studied for a year as an exchange student from the USA.
Frances’s academic journey ended today when she walked across the stage at the Usher Hall to collect her degree wearing her thesis, about online information and personal reputations, on her FEET.
Frances, now 45, said: “Paul was the biggest supporter I have ever had and he encouraged my dreams from the moment we met – he was always there to celebrate or commiserate with me along the way.
“However, my support network – Paul’s old university friends, my in-laws, my family in America, and my supervisors at the university – have done their best to be there when he couldn’t be and have made this entire process possible. It is all the more poignant because Paul himself did a postgraduate diploma in computing at Edinburgh Napier before we met.
“I would love to stay in the city for the foreseeable future. This is where my soul found a place of belonging that I never felt before. If you’ve heard The Proclaimers’ song Streets of Edinburgh, that sums up my feelings for this place.”
Frances, originally from Washington State in the USA, first came to Edinburgh Napier for a year’s study in 2001/2. She fell in love with retail manager Paul after a random meeting in a tourist shop in the Royal Mile, where he was covering for staff who were off sick.
After finishing her BA degree in America, Frances returned to Edinburgh to be with him. Paul proposed to her during a break in Venice, and they were married in her rural hometown of Cle Elum in 2005.
The newly-weds settled in America but tragedy struck on 26 April 2009 when Paul, 47, who was weeks from his first marathon, had a heart attack in the middle of the night and died despite Frances’s efforts to save him with CPR. They had been due to adopt two children from foster care shortly after his death.
Frances endured almost two gruelling years of widowhood before she felt ready to study again, and, in line with their plans as a couple to return to Scotland one day, she came back to these shores, doing a Masters of Letters in Media and Culture at the University of Stirling.
Then, as the focus of her academic interests moved from media and communications work to human information behaviour, she turned down two other PhD opportunities to take up a place at Edinburgh Napier’s Centre for Social Informatics.
Frances said: “I knew the moment I accepted that I was doing the right thing for me on a professional and personal level.
“The PhD here was based on my research proposal which was something I was passionate about, and I was also promised opportunities for teaching and public engagement work.
“I have travelled the world presenting my research and have done fun public engagement talks, including at the Bright Club and the Fringe.
“I feel very proud to have got to graduation day, and to have some of Paul’s friends here to celebrate with me. Although, like me, Paul considered Edinburgh home, he was originally from Billingham in north-east England. We both came from large working-class families, and were the first from those families to graduate from university so my dreams for a PhD became Paul’s dream, too.”
Frances, a keen recycler, even added her own quirky touch to graduation day by revamping a pair of high heels which had seen better days.
She demonstrated a deft touch in decoupage by taking cut-outs from the printed draft of her PhD thesis and used them to decorate the shoes she wore for the ceremony.
She said: “I got the idea from a framed photo I made for Paul before we got married, and I will hopefully be wearing them for presentations for many years to come.”
Professor Ben Paechter, Head of Research for the School of Computing, said: “I was lucky enough to chair the oral exam at the end of Frances’s studies.
“It was an emotional time as we all knew that this was the culmination of something very important for Frances personally. I felt a special connection because Paul and I were involved in student politics together at university.
“Thankfully, it became clear very early in the exam that Frances was an absolute expert in her field, and that her dream, and Paul’s, was going to be achieved.”
THE creative thinker who sent Buzz Lightyear into space received an honorary degree from Edinburgh Napier University yesterday. Former Disney executive Duncan Wardle was made a Doctor of Business Administration in a ceremony at the capital’s Usher Hall.Continue reading To University and Beyond!
