Success and encouragement at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Graduation 2022
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig held its annual Graduation Ceremony on Friday 30 September, where graduates, teaching staff, family, and friends came together to celebrate a year of success. It has been three years since graduation was last held in-person on the College campus, and so the class of 2022 was also joined by some of the graduates from 2020 and 2021. A total of 63 students graduated from the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture this year, with awards from secondary school to postgraduate level handed out.
Angus MacLeod, Chair of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Board of Directors, welcomed the audience, saying:
“Tonight, we are celebrating the achievements of the hard work and labour of the College’s staff and students throughout the past two years. Difficult years, but from which also came success, as we will see tonight.
“Students and graduates: you have proved your excellence – with talents of all kinds, and well done to you all! We are all proud of you and delighted for you.”
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Principal Dr Gillian Munro spoke of the history and status of the College, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its opening next year, and gave words of wisdom and encouragement to those graduating:
“We should not forget the struggle of others to gain basic rights for our language, culture, and people, and that it is our job to add to their legacy.
“Tonight, we see in you, the next generation that will follow us. Be confident, and work together as a national Gaelic community; for together, we will accomplish far more than we will on our own.
“So congratulations to you, and to your families, friends, and staff at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig!”
This was the first year that the Professional Development Award in Gaelic Translation was handed out, with eight students completing the new postgraduate-level course. One of those students was Cailean Gordon, winner of the SQA Award. Speaking about his experience, he said:
”I did the course through my employment to develop skills in this area. The course was excellent, and I learnt a lot from it. The course lecturer was particularly helpful and encouraging, and I also learnt a lot from fellow students and their different approaches to translation. It improved my skills without a doubt, and I regularly implement good practices I learnt from it in my employment.”
The SMO Student of the Year award went to Mara Drysdale, who achieved a first-class BA (Hons) degree in Gaelic and Education. Mara went through GME in school, and she wants to provide the same encouragement and education that she received from her own teachers to the next generation:
“The tutors that I had, especially the BA Gaelic and Education team, were especially supportive, encouraging, and knowledgeable. I did my first year at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on campus, but due to Covid and school placements, I did the other years through distance learning. That had no effect on the support and teaching I received though, and every time I returned for exams, I still felt like a part of the College community.
“I am now on my probation year, and I am putting the skills and theory that I learned at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig to use every day in my planning and my lessons. I particularly enjoyed doing education research as part of my dissertation and so I’d like to return to do a masters in the future!”
The Graduation Lecture was given by Shona MacLennan, who spoke fondly of her own ties to the College and the part it played in her journey towards her current role as Ceannard at Bòrd na Gàidhlig. She also reflected on the values that guide her and her colleagues in their daily work and offered her warm congratulations to those graduating. Speaking about the evening, she said:
“I was delighted to be able to attend Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Graduation ceremony this year. It was encouraging to see the graduates together, particularly given the challenges they have faced in the last two years. I look forward to seeing what they do for Gaelic in the future.”
