Mother-of-three wins North Highland College UHI top student award

Business management student Jacqueline King studies while the children sleep.

Thirty-six-year old Jacqueline King, a third year student on the BA business management course, has just been awarded the title of North Highland College UHI student of the year in recognition of her exceptional personal achievement, and academic prowess.

Throughout her studies, Jacqueline has demonstrated admirable determination to succeed and has remained focused on completing her studies whilst juggling family life.

Jacqueline first enrolled at North Highland College UHI in 1991 as a day release student whilst working at Dounreay. Her employer sponsored her studies until she had completed her higher national diploma in 1997. As the college did not offer the degree course at that time, her studies were put on hold.

In 2006, Jacqueline returned to study the third year of the degree part time when her children, Lucy and Emily were aged just two and one. With her children being so young, studying during the day was not possible so the majority of her studying had to be done whilst the children were in bed. When her third child, Lois, was born in 2008, Jacqueline suspended her studies for one semester, returning when Lois was just 4 months old.

Over and above the challenges placed upon Jacqueline to get through her studies, and the fact that she had not studied for nine years, she has been awarded her degree with distinction – an accreditation awarded to students for achieving an average of 70% across all eight modules.

Jacqueline commented "I am delighted to have achieved a distinction in my business degree and be selected as North Highland College UHI student of the year and would like to thank my husband Richard and family for their support throughout my course. I was determined to complete the degree course to the best of my ability and in doing so set a good example to my children that if you work hard you can achieve good results. It is fantastic that  North Highland College UHI can now offer such a range of high level courses and the teacher support and facilities are excellent."

As local winner, Jacqueline will be presented with a cheque for £100 and put forward for the overall title of the University of the Highlands and Islands student of the year 2011, competing with regional winners across the university's network of colleges, learning and research centres.