News release: Top marks for local students

Abstract

Hard work and dedication have paid off for a talented group of award winning students
at the University of Central Lancashire.
Preston based students Helena Gray, Saira Beg, Marc Kinsella, along with Mark
Holding from Blackpool all received Ede and Ravenscroft awards for academic
excellence. The awards are sponsored by academic gown suppliers Ede and
Ravenscroft and offered to students studying on the University's Combined Honours
Programme, where the flexible nature of the course allows students to complete
modules at their own pace. Under this system, mature students like Helena Gray can
study part time whilst working and bringing up a family.
"I've wanted to study forensics since the age of 11", says Helena, 39, who works for a
bank in Preston and has two daughters, aged 15 and 16 years. Now that my children are
a little older, I have decided to do a degree in Forensic Science and Microbiology and
eventually hope to work in the Forensics field."
Marc Kinsella and Saira Beg are both full time students. Marc, 19, from Ingol is
studying for a joint honours degree in Maths and Astronomy and eventually hopes to
become an accountant. Saira, 20, who lives in Fishwick, is pleased that she opted to
stay and study at her local university on such a flexible programme of study.
"I'm taking Biochemistry, Physiology and Pharmacology which means that I get the
opportunity to pursue a wide programme of study without committing myself to one
subject", she says.
All the prize winners scored an average of over 70% on their respective courses.
5 February 2003
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Note: A digital image of the award winners is attached: L toR - Mark Holding, Helena
Gray, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Alan Roff, Marc Kinsella, Saira Beg