East Ayrshire student named student of the year for Scotland

East Ayrshire based student, Mark Ferguson of Daldorch House School in Catrine, has been awarded the title of Sky Sports Living for Sport Student of the Year 2011 for Scotland.

Sky Sports Living for Sport, delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, is a free secondary schools initiative that uses sport stars and sport skills to improve the lives of thousands of young people by boosting confidence, changing behaviours and increasing attainment.

The Sky Sports Living for Sport Student of the Year awards have encouraged schools across the UK to nominate pupils whose involvement demonstrates how sport has supported them in developing skills such as confidence, respect and a sense of achievement.  

With the help of Sky Sports Living for Sport, Daldorch House School devised a project for Mark and a fellow pupil, to challenge their abilities both physically and mentally. Mark, who has autism, finds communication difficult and struggles to adapt to social situations so a task with a high degree of structure was decided to be appropriate. The boys were tasked with increasingly difficult walks to increase their stamina before reaching a final objective of climbing Cairn Table, a 2000ft stark moorland hill in Ayrshire. They increased their strength and learned skills that were totally new to them, including packing their rucksack, planning rest breaks and preparing their own lunch. Mark completed each stage of the task and was presentenced with a certificated by Sky Sports Living for Sport Athlete Mentor Steve Frew.