THE TALENT of Dundee College students was well to the fore at yesterday’s awards ceremony in the Caird Hall.

In their last performance for the college, HND acting and performance students Claire Cameron, Jonathan Panchaud, Caroline Dey and Nealey Edmonds introduced the various disciplines, while music students performed selections from their recent Vocal Showcase at The Space.

However, the main focus was on the 500 students receiving certificates for the completion of courses as varied as embroidery and engineering.

Among those receiving awards were Pamela Bruce, Lillias MacQueen, Jennifer Johnston, Elizabeth Adam and Sally Doering—the first five students to qualify in Genealogy with IT.

Aimed at deaf students, the course was delivered in sign language and is the first of its kind in the country.

It also led to Sally tracing her family back to 1615 and finding out she was “related” to course lecturer Jennifer Ramsay—they both have connections to one of Robert Burns’ ancestors.

Fellow student Lillias has used a combination of traditional methods and modern resources in her researches.

She hopes her experience will help other deaf people to access their family history.

Also being honoured was 44-year-old Fiona Linton, who refused to allow disability to get in the way of her studies.

Fiona lost her sight when she was 12 and became profoundly deaf about six years ago.

Since then, the mother-of-three has communicated using deafblind manual, which involves the other person in the conversation making signs directly onto her hand.

However, Fiona decided to learn British Sign Language at Dundee College and received her certificate yesterday.

She said, “With the help of a guide communicator who translates what BSL users are saying to me, I can reply in their own language.”

Norma Smith (34) had two causes to be proud as she received her NQ certificate in nail care and depilation, while daughter Jenna (15) received a similar award for hairdressing.

Jenna attended the training salons one day each week as part of the college’s schools initiative programme.

Addressing the students and the 1500 parents, friends and relatives who had turned out for their big day, principal Christina Potter said, “At Dundee College we have a simple vision—that of raising ambition and realising success, and nowhere is this more evident than at our awards ceremonies.

“Today’s ceremony realises the ambitions and celebrates the success of students who have completed further education programmes with us this year and we congratulate them on this achievement.

“In order to succeed in their studies, today’s students have put in much effort and hard work and undergone much by way of rigorous assessment and they should now be confident of their abilities.”

She added, “These certificates demonstrate your abilities and are proof of your achievement— whether you use them to seek employment or to go on to further study.

“Use the confidence you have gained to raise your ambition and to realise further success in the years to come.”