Student of the Year Award for Cadet

NAFC Marine Centre UHI were delighted to catch up with deck cadet Steven MacLeod today on board Northlink Ferry Hrossey to present him with the NAFC UHI Student of the Year award for 2016.

The award was made to Steven during a visit to the Hrossey by some of NAFC's newest class of cadets, who started their studies at the Centre just a few weeks ago, and were on their first ship visit.

Steven, from Stornoway, is working on the Hrossey as a sponsored cadet while continuing to work towards his Deck Officer Certificate of Competency under the NAFC Merchant Navy Officer Cadet Programme. He gave the new cadets a tour of a ship and told them something of his experiences as a trainee officer. A bonus for the visiting cadets was that they got to witness Steven helping the Master, Stuart Pottinger, and Chief Officer, Lewys Rees, manoeuvre the ship off the berth and take her for a short trip out of the harbour.

Steven was presented with a certificate and cash prize by NAFC nautical lecturer Shubham Chowdhury who had nominated him the award due to the commitment and dedication he has shown to his studies as well as the life changes he had made in order to follow his new career. The nomination said that Steven was an exemplary student in every way and that his commitment to this new career and return to full-time education after an absence of several years was to be commended. He is a brilliant example to others of how one can achieve your ambitions with a little bit of life change. Steven is always willing to help his fellow classmates if he felt they were struggling with some subjects, and his efforts and kindness were much appreciated by them all. Staff found him a pleasure to teach and said he was “always very respectful to staff members” which is also true of everybody he encounters.

Student support officer Caroline Hepburn said “From the very first day in college Steven stood out as committed, keen and engaging, always with a smile on his face. Starting a new course in a new place is daunting for younger students but brings a range of other concerns for somebody who has already been established in a career and is making a radical change of direction, as Steven was. He took everything in his stride with competence and good nature, showing great dedication to his studies. During his second sea phase he became a Dad to Finlay and managed to get 7 weeks ashore over Christmas to spend time with his new family but found it very hard leaving after that to go back to sea! Steven is a fantastic example of how you can successfully make a dream into reality while keeping your feet firmly on the ground. I think he is a very worthy winner of this award.”

When told of his award Steven was “not sure what to say, if I’m honest. I didn’t really expect to win but thank you very much for the nomination and I’m glad I have done the college proud. It is a fabulous prize, I am absolutely delighted with it, as student money is tight and times can be hard this feels like winning the lottery.”

Speaking on behalf of NorthLink Ferries, HR Manager Paul Gellately said that "Steven is an example to all aspiring trainee officers. During the course of his training with NorthLink he has proven to be diligent in all aspects of his work and studies and shipboard life. It is with great pride and delight that Steven, as one of our trainee officers has received the recognition of this NAFC UHI Student of the Year award."