Six Fife College students have been recognised with Ray Fernie Scholarships, celebrating their achievements and supporting them as they continue their education and prepare for future careers.
The scholarship, which is new this year, has been established in memory of Ray Fernie, a passionate educator and former teacher at Lochgelly High School who dedicated his career to helping young people develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they needed to succeed in the world of work.
A special ceremony attended by Ray Fernie's wife, Shireen, and his close friend Robbie Paterson, recognised students who have demonstrated commitment to their studies and who are progressing to the next level of their education at Fife College.
Shireen presented certificates to this year's recipients, Kyle (Kenny) Dennis, Nathaniel Sahin, Lewis Buchanan and Corey Smith who received £400 each while Sophie Swan and Krystal Moore each received £200 scholarships.
As a highly respected teacher, Ray pioneered innovative employability programmes that connected pupils with local employers and prepared them for life beyond the classroom. He later became Fife Council's Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Manager, expanding his successful model across Fife and creating a framework that has since been adopted by councils throughout Scotland. Following his death in 2019, after an eight-year battle with prostate cancer, his family and friends established the Ray Fernie Foundation to continue his legacy of supporting young people.
The original foundation has since closed, with its remaining funds transferred to Fife College, where the scholarship is now administered through the College's Adam Smith Scholarships programme to ensure Ray's legacy continues to benefit future generations of students.
Among this year's recipients was Sophie Swan from Dunfermline, who is progressing from the Intermediate Certificate in Child, Health and Social Care.
Sophie, from Dunfermline, said:
“I am so grateful and happy to be awarded this scholarship. I will spend the money on resources to continue learning and also driving lessons to make it easier to get to college. Again, I am so grateful to be given this award."
Photography student Corey Smith, from Glenrothes said:
“This scholarship is a great way to give opportunities to students to help them afford equipment and resources for their studies and future jobs. It will enable me to buy a new lens I need for sports photography in my next year at college.”
Nathaniel Sahin, from Cowdenbeath, who is studying Future Constructions said:
“Having the opportunity to be awarded the Ray Fernie Scholarship is a great honour and one I will never forget. I will use this scholarship award to help me get work in construction – to help with driving lessons and to pay for registration so I can work on a construction site.”
Shireen Fernie said:
“Ray was passionate about giving young people every opportunity to succeed, and he believed that education should open doors to rewarding careers. Seeing these scholarships support Fife College students in pursuing their ambitions is a fitting tribute to his life's work. We are delighted to work in partnership with Fife College to help ensure Ray's legacy lives on through this wonderful scholarship.”
Lyn Gold, Scholarship and Alumni Engagement Lead at Fife College, said:
“The Ray Fernie Scholarship is not just about financial support – it's about investing in the potential of our students and helping them take the next step towards their future careers. Ray dedicated his life to creating opportunities for young people, and we are proud to continue that legacy through this scholarship. Congratulations to this year's recipients, whose hard work and commitment have earned this well-deserved recognition.”
The Ray Fernie Scholarship forms part of the Adam Smith Scholarships programme, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year. One of the largest college scholarship programmes in Scotland, it awards thousands of pounds each year to support students, create opportunities and help transform lives.
For further information about scholarships at Fife College, visit the Adam Smith Scholarships page or email scholarships@fife.ac.uk.
Photograph: (left to right) Robbie Paterson, Nathaniel Sahin, Corey Smith and Shireen Fernie are pictured at the presentation of the Ray Fernie Scholarships at Fife College’s Dunfermline City Campus.