A GRADUATION ceremony at Queen’s University Belfast took on a special significance for one Ballygowan student.
When Thomas Scobie was awarded his Master’s degree in Engineering, he was joined by his proud parents – both of whom have strong connections with the university.
Thomas’s dad Peter, who was recently named as a BEM recipient in last month’s King’s Birthday Honours, has been head chef at Queen’s for 33 years, and his mum Susanne worked at the university for 40 years.
Thomas also worked part-time in the University’s Campus Food and Drink department throughout his studies. He said Queen’s played a huge role in his childhood and his time as a student has been an unforgettable experience.
Thomas said: “Some of my earliest memories are of visiting the university. Over the years, my visits to the iconic, red-brick Lanyon Building instilled in me a deep appreciation for the institution and its dedicated community, long before I ever stepped into a lecture theatre.
Even my part-time job with Campus Food and Drink encouraged me to apply. “We often joked we were a Queen’s family through and through.
Graduating from the place where my parents spent so much of their working lives makes this achievement feel incredibly special.” Thomas fully embraced all aspects of the student experience, attending lots of events and joining Queen’s Formula Racing Team, where students from across the university work together to design, build and compete in a small single-seat race car at the annual Formula Student competition at Silverstone Racetrack.
Thomas explained: “It’s been a tough course, but a really rewarding one. Mechanical Engineering pushed me to develop strong problem-solving and analytical skills, and earning a First was a moment I am extremely proud of. However, the wider experience at Queen’s has been just as important.
“I got involved with Queen’s Formula Racing because of my interest and passion for Formula 1, and Formula Student was the ideal place to learn. It’s where you get to take all the theory from lectures and build something that you can compete with.
It’s the closest thing to real engineering you can get as a student. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Silverstone last year where we competed against universities from all over the world, and I am looking forward to competing again this year.
Formula Student is one of the most defining aspects of my time at Queen’s.” The future is bright for Thomas who completed a placement year working in a manufacturing environment at Huhtamaki in Dollingstown.
He has now secured a position as a design engineer with Thompson Aero Seating and will begin the role in September.
He said: “I am very excited to start my new job in September and transition from education to industry. In the meantime, I am trying to enjoy myself as much as possible and squeezing in as many holidays as possible.”
Referring to his dad receiving the honour of a BEM, Thomas said the family would be attending a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the autumn; he added: “It is a very special year for our family and between us, we have made some incredible memories at Queen’s.”
