Huge prizegiving success at NCIC

Many young people received prizes ranging from the academic to the sporting and beyond. These young people collected their awards in front of their parents, peers, principal, teachers and other distinguished guests who were in attendance.

Principal, Mr Mullan, was joined by Vice-Principal, Mrs Passmore, representatives from the Board of Governors including Chair, Ellie Bryden and Guest Speaker, Brian N Dickie, accompanied by his wife.

Mr Mullan began the proceedings by highlighting the wonderful results achieved by both A’ Level and GCSE students alike. Such success stories are the product of hard work, determination and supportive parents. Mr Mullan went on to thank, “the dedicated team of teaching and support staff who work tirelessly to ensure that each student at the College achieves their true potential. Also in school there is a small army of non-teaching staff including the Lunch time Supervisors, the Cleaners, the Caretaker, the Canteen Staff, the Office staff, the Bursar, the Librarian, the Technician and the Governors who all play a vital role in our school and I welcome this opportunity to publicly thank you for all that you do.”

Mr Mullan congratulated the many students on their university placements and wished everyone well with their further studies and chosen career pathway. He extended an open ended invitation for their return to share all of their successes with future prize winners.

Mr Mullan also talked of the wonderful extra-curricular opportunities available to students at the College , “As usual we have a very full programme this year of extra-curricular activities. May I encourage you to avail of the wonderful choice that the College offers. That choice extends to over twenty different activities both during the school day and in the afternoons. From Duke of Edinburgh to Languages club, from the Animal club to Animation, from Gardening to Guitar, from Soccer to the School Magazine, from Gaelic to the great North Coast Integrated Bake off - the choice is incredible and the list goes on!”

Before introducing the guest speaker, Mr Mullan concluded his speech by reiterating his congratulations to all of the prize winners. He also talked of the great future that lies ahead for North Coast Integrated College. In its 20th anniversary year the College has had the largest intake of year 8 students ever with the introduction of the grammar pathway, and now, the entire College community is looking forward to the much anticipated new build.

A member of the Campaign Council for the Integrated Education Fund, Mr Dickie has always been a firm supporter of Integrated Education. Mr Dickie holds an MA in English from Oxford University and an MBA from Harvard.

At present, Mr Dickie is an Advisory Director to the private equity team in Investcorp.  Mr Dickie joined Investcorp from TXU Energy in Dallas, Texas, where he had been president of the company’s North American Group since 1999.  Before then, Mr Dickie was chief operating officer at Booz-Allen & Hamilton, an international strategic consultancy where he worked for 17 years and where he had also been managing partner of the company’s Asia Pacific, Japan and Middle East region. Mr Dickie also currently serves as chairman or non-executive director of several companies in Europe and the Middle East.

As a very successful businessman Mr Dickie shared three guiding principles with the prize winners. He said that they should be curious, it is important to wonder and question the world around us; they should take a chance, it is important to aim high and go out of your comfort zone; and finally they should be committed, it is important to follow through all things to their conclusion.

Mr Dickie also pointed out how privileged the students of North Coast Integrated College are to attend such a school. He said that here at NCIC, the staff and students are unique in that they enjoy the true meaning of a shared education on a daily basis.

After the ceremony the prize winners and guests spent time together reflecting on the success of the evening whilst enjoying refreshments prepared by the Friends of North Coast.