QM News 63 (pdf 752KB) - Queen Margaret University

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QUEEN MARGARET STUDENTS
MAKE THEIR MARK
QUEEN MARGARET STUDENT WINS
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY AWARD
MBA student, Michael Lennon, has
won the prestigious Ambassador’s
Award at the Springboard Awards for
Excellence, held in London.
The Ambassador’s Award, sponsored by
People Tree, is given in recognition of
outstanding achievement and innovation
in the hospitality industry by a registered
Springboard Ambassador, whose
activities have proven success in
changing the perceptions towards, and
raising the profile of, a career in
hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.
Michael won the award for developing
the concept of an interactive board
game called ‘Who wants to be a
Hotelier?’. Michael’s idea was to give
teachers and young people a taste of
the excitement of working in the tourism
and hospitality industries and to help
them realise the diverse career
opportunities available.
The board game was developed by
Michael in conjunction with Springboard
and launched by the Scottish Tourism
Minister, Patricia Ferguson, in May 2005.
It has since been distributed to every
high school in Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Perth and Inverness, and to many other
schools throughout Scotland. The Perth
and Inverness Hoteliers’ Associations
are currently using it as part of their
schools programme.
“Michael has shown creativity and
tenacity in seeing a project through from
start to finish,” said the judges. “His
initiative has really engaged the
target group.”
The Springboard Awards for Excellence
provide companies and individuals with
the opportunity to showcase
outstanding practice in addressing one
of the industry’s most significant issues –
attracting and retaining people. To win,
each entry must have a clear strategy,
address the specific need of the
initiative, have clear aims and outcomes
and show proof of innovation,
achievement, evaluation and use
of partnerships.
Michael Lennon presented with the award from
Anne Pierce, Chief Executive of Springboard.
YOUNG THEATRE TALENT LIGHTS
UP DRAMA FESTIVAL
A Theatre Production student at
Queen Margaret has picked up an
award at the National Student Drama
Festival.
Matthew Thompson, who has just
completed his fourth year at Queen
Margaret, was awarded first place in the
Stage Electrical Awards for his
contribution to lighting at the festival
which was held in Bournemouth in April.
As part of his award, which was
sponsored by Martin Professional,
Matthew will go on an all expenses paid
trip to Martin Professional’s head office
in Denmark to take a tour of Europe’s
most advanced intelligent lighting
manufacturing centre.
George Tarbuck, subject leader in
lighting and sound at Queen Margaret,
said: "We are delighted for Matthew.
During his time at Queen Margaret he
has become a familiar face on the
Edinburgh lighting scene having worked
on numerous professional shows and
events. This award is well-deserved
recognition of Matthew’s emergence as
a creative lighting practitioner and we
wish him well for the future.”
Martin leaves us to take up a position
with Simon Kennedy Lighting, an
Edinburgh-based company specialising in
lighting for the corporate events industry.