15 July 2009

It might be something in the water or the fresh, bracing air associated with the north coast but, whatever it is, it certainly seems to have had a stimulating effect on three Greenmount agricultural students. The students, Alan Archibold from Portballintrae, Chris Breadon from Portstewart and Steven McAllister from Bushmills gained the highest possible grades - three ‘distinctions’ - in their National Diploma in Agriculture course at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus in June. This is the equivalent of achieving three ‘A’ grades at ‘A’ level.

As well as gaining the top NDA award the students took away a number of other awards, cups and prizes. Alan received the prize for the top student overall on the course. Steven won the National Beef Association Cup for best student on the beef production module as well as the Hall Cup for the best student on the work experience module.

All three students said they thoroughly enjoyed the course. In fact they found life at Greenmount so rewarding that all hope to return next year to carry on with their education. Chris hopes to do the Higher National Diploma in Agriculture course at Greenmount and then top it off with a degree at the Queen’s University Belfast or at Harper Adams in Shropshire. Alan and Stephen are hoping to go directly on to the BSc Agricultural Technology course at Greenmount and Queens University.  

Ronnie Hutchinson

College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, Greenmount Campus.

Alan Archibold from Portballintrae, Chris Breadon from Portstewart and Steven McAllister from Bushmills who gained the highest possible grades - three ‘distinctions’ - in their National Diploma at the Greenmount Awards Ceremony.