By Laura Thomas

IT WAS a day of double joy for the family of Ailsa and Kirsten Lawson as the 22-year-old twins graduated from the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design yesterday.

Ailsa, a time-based art and digital film graduate, and Kirsten, a graduate in illustration, joined the art college together four years ago.

Ailsa, the elder by eight minutes, said she was delighted to be sharing one of the most memorable days of her life with her sibling.

“It’s nice to be graduating at the same time—especially as we came up to university together and lived together in first and second year,” she said.

“What makes it even more special that we did this together is that we’ll be heading off to do our own thing now. It’s been a magical day.”

Kirsten said, “It’s such a lovely day and I’m really excited to be graduating with Ailsa.”

“I’ve loved my time studying here, and although it’s going to be sad to say goodbye to a lot of people, it’s also exciting to see what comes next.”

Among the hundreds of talented students who descended on the City Square were two Nigerian students—Anye Ibiama (36), an MBA graduate of oil and gas management, and Hyacinth Elayo (36), who studied for an MSc in energy policy.

They formed a close working relationship with the chairman of Dundee and Angus Oil Venture Group, Ernie Coutts, and started an oil and gas service group, Ecosse Global Energy Limited, in their home country.

Catherine MacDonald (22), an anatomy and physiology graduate, was named this year’s winner of the Wimberley Award, which is given to the student who has made the most distinguished contribution to university life.

She received the award for combining her academic studies with participation in all aspects of student life during her time at Dundee, becoming heavily involved in peer support and student representation.

Students from the School of Architecture, College of Life Sciences and Postgraduate School of Management Policy graduated in the morning, while students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, the School of Computing and the School of Engineering, Maths and Physics graduated in the afternoon.

They arrived with friends and family in tow for the ceremonial “dubbing” with the traditional blue bonnet by university chancellor, Lord Patel of Dunkeld.