Latest news with #InstitutionoftheYear
Scotsman
30-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Queen Margaret University named Higher Education Institute of the Year
Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh has been crowned Higher Education Institute of the Year at the prestigious Herald Higher Education Awards 2025, held in Glasgow on 29th May 2025. Coming in QMU's 150th anniversary year, this accolade celebrates the institution's enduring commitment to academic excellence, community engagement, inclusion, innovation and student support. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The university impressed judges with its outstanding achievements across multiple categories, securing wins for 'Outstanding Contribution from a Staff Member' - honouring podiatry lecturer Evelyn Weir for her decades-long service to Scotland's homeless community - and 'Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community' for its pioneering Wooden Spoon Frame Running Equipment Hub, the first of its kind in Scotland. QMU was also shortlisted in four additional categories, reflecting the University's innovative approach to education, inclusivity, and public service. The judging panel praised in particular the University's holistic impact. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Queen Margaret University's Principal, Sir Paul Grice, said: 'We are over the moon to be awarded Higher Education Institute of the Year – particularly in the year that we celebrate our 150th anniversary. This accolade is a testament to the passion and dedication of our staff, students, and partners, and reflects our mission to make a real difference in the world, enabling people and communities to flourish.' QMU team win Institution of the Year Sir Paul continued: 'It was particularly pleasing to see Evelyn Weir, Senior Lecturer in Podiatry, recognised for her outstanding contribution. Evelyn has dedicated 30 years of her life to supporting the homeless community and has encouraged our students and graduates to work alongside her in the running of specialist foot clinics for people living on the streets. She is also a staff member who goes 'above and beyond' - particularly for our care experienced students. She has never wavered in her personalised support of students – providing the extra care, encouragement and financial guidance required to ensure students have a transformative university experience, reaching their potential during their time at QMU and beyond graduation. She epitomises the values of QMU in her education and support of students, and in her drive to be a force for good within the university, the wider community and the podiatry profession.' QMUs pioneering role in advancing Frame Running for disabled athletes was formally recognised with the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community Award. Frame Running, a sport that utilises specially designed three-wheeled frames, empowers individuals with limited or no walking ability to experience the freedom of independent movement. The Wooden Spoon Frame Running Equipment Hub, based at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, is the first of its kind in Scotland - and is believed to be the first dedicated facility of its kind anywhere in the world. This ground-breaking initiative has been made possible by support from the Wooden Spoon charity, and is the result of a collaborative partnership between QMU, Neil's Wheel Charity, Frame Running Scotland, and ACE Frame Running, in conjunction with Scottish Athletics and Scottish Disability Sport. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Hub forms part of QMU's wider commitment to shaping the future of Frame Running. Through its research into athlete classification for para sport, the University is helping to build the foundations for fairer, more inclusive competition. The creation of the Hub reflects this broader ambition - translating academic insight into real-world impact for athletes and communities. QMU team winning Institute of the Year Sir Paul concluded: 'In such a special year, we are delighted that a record number of our entries made it into the finals of the Herald Higher Education Awards. The Award of Higher Education Institute of the Year allows us to honour our past, celebrate our present, and continue to lead with purpose - demonstrating that education can be a powerful force for good. 'Our thanks go to the Herald Scotland, and all of the college and university award winners, who together showcase so much of what is good about the education sector.'
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center receives statewide honor
FAIRMONT — A statewide organization has bestowed its highest honor on the Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center at Fairmont State University. The West Virginia Association of Museums recently named the local folklife center Institution of the Year. The award recognizes the center for its contributions to preserving and celebrating Appalachian culture and heritage and also comes with a $500 prize to support the Center's various programs. The award comes on the heels of the Center's director, Lydia Warren, being honored by the City of Fairmont Arts and Humanities Commission for leadership in the arts. The award honors Warren for advocacy for the arts and her efforts to expand cultural programming and deepen community engagement in the region. 'It is an honor to receive both of these awards and be recognized by WVAM and the Fairmont Arts and Humanities Commission,' Warren said. 'A large part of my goal is to be a good steward of the Folklife Center, which was founded by Dr. Judy Byers. To me, that means ensuring support for local and regional folk traditions, artists, and musicians while providing learning and entertainment opportunities for the community. These awards show that we're on the right track, and I couldn't be more honored!' Since serving as director of the Frank & Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center since 2022, Warren has fostered the University's connection to local and regional arts by hosting events by and for community members, including jams, dances, concerts, and grant-funded arts exhibitions. Her goal is to create free opportunities for the community to participate in the arts while ensuring that local artists are featured and paid fairly. Warren also serves as a member of the Marion County Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors and the West Virginia Humanities Council. She has served as a grant panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts. Warren has a doctorate in critical and comparative music studies from the University of Virginia, a bachelor of arts in music from Smith College, and a Five College Consortium Certificate in ethnomusicology. She also has an associate of science in music from Middlesex Community College. Housed in a restored historic barn on the Fairmont State University campus, the Folklife Center is home to notable collections, including the Ruth Ann Musick folklore archives, the Phyllis W. Moore West Virginia Authors archives, and the Patty Looman collection. These resources support scholarly research and student exploration in folklore and museum studies, two of the undergraduate programs housed within the Center as part of the University's College of Liberal Arts.
