Alexander was nominated by lecturer Stephen Frew who said: "In Alexander I observed a student who throughout the year gave everything of himself to the course, colleagues and college. He championed the course, supported his colleagues and would always be counted on to be there when help was required, a real team player.

"Alexander is a person who came into further education full of doubts, concerns, lacking in confidence and no sense of direction. He leaves West Lothian College, a proven high performing student who now has direction and a new found belief in himself. I am sure he will be graduating with Honours very soon from Queen Margaret's."

At graduation Alexander said: “I feel really honoured to win the award, I’m a bit overwhelmed because I didn’t really expect it. I was a mature student so I thought it might go to someone else but I’m very honoured to win.

“My time at the college was really good, it goes in quickly but there’s a lot of opportunity here for new experiences and to meet different people.”