Celebrating the remarkable achievements of Nairn’s young athletes and leaders was the focus of a special event at the town’s high school on Tuesday night (11th June). The occasion also saw the launch of the new Ambassadors initiative for the High Life Highland leadership programme.
Nairn’s Celebration of Sport and Leadership Awards was the ideal place to announce the first trio of High Life Highland Leadership Programme Ambassadors, as Nairn Academy is where the programme began in 2004, in the very early days of the Active Schools initiative. The days before a full-time development officer was in post, allowing the sector leading programme to be rolled out across the Highlands.
Guest speakers, Tom Stoltman, three times winner of the World’s Strongest Man and Steve Walsh, chief executive of High Life Highland, along with Nairn Academy Head Teacher, Julie MacDonald were the first three Ambassadors to receive the #itsallaboutthehoodie sweatshirts. The new High Life Highland Leadership Programme Ambassadors are people with a track record of supporting the programme or are passionate about helping to promote the initiative and offer support to the region’s young leaders.
Tuesday night’s awards ceremony was hosted by Nairn Academy’s Young Ambassadors of Sport, Alexander Dudley and Jessica Macpherson, with awards handed out for outstanding accomplishments in sports from school to regional and national levels, as well as tribute paid to the commitment and impact of participants in the Leadership Programme who have demonstrated exceptional initiative and drive in their roles.
Among the main winners were:
- Youth Leader of the Year – Media Zvirblyte
- Young Leader of the Year – Rosie Walker
- Senior Sports Leader of the Year – Alexander Dudley
- Sports Personality of the year – Lochlan Hodge
Congratulating all those receiving award, Tom Stoltman said: “I am delighted to have been invited to hear about all the inspiring young folk doing great things in sport and leadership in the Highlands. Well done to them all.”
Steve Walsh commented: “It’s fantastic to be invited to Nairn’s Celebration of Sport and Leadership Awards – it is great to see so many young people showing real ambition and achieving success from local to national level. I am really passionate about the High Life Highland leadership programme and the opportunities it presents, helping young people build confidence and skills, and long may it continue.”
For more information on the High Life Highland leadership programme please go here: Leadership Programme – Sport (highlifehighland.com)
