A DUNFERMLINE graduate who thought his studies would be a "welcome distraction from chemotherapy" has won the Principal’s Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

Mark Green managed to complete the second year of his HND Building Surveying course at City of Glasgow College during lockdown and while also undergoing treatment for leukaemia.

He said: "Receiving this award has certainly been a surprise. I consider myself very fortunate to have had treatment when the UK was in lockdown.

"The NHS team who looked after me were fantastic, as was the support from my family, friends, fellow students and lecturing team at City of Glasgow College."

Mark added: “The diagnosis was a shock and it took time to think about my options, particularly my studies, but I was determined to complete my second year as planned.

"I thought that studying would be a welcome distraction from chemotherapy.

“My thanks go to the lecturing team, including student services, for their help, support and flexibility in getting me through the course.”

He received the award at the college’s winter graduation ceremony.

College principal Paul Little said: "Graduation is a major highlight in our college calendar and the prizes we award rightly recognise those individuals who have excelled in their studies and who stood out as exemplary classmates and students. Mark should be very proud of this achievement.”

Mark is now studying for an honours degree in building surveying at Glasgow Caledonian University and hopes to work eventually as a drone pilot/surveyor.