Wick student attains top Environmental Health grades

Alana MacDonald, a student Environmental Health Officer in Wick, gained her professional qualification as an Environmental Health Officer earlier this month. She also received the award for top student at the Environmental Health Officer professional exams in 2009 in addition to a number of individual awards for specific subject areas.
 
Alana has been training with The Highland Council’s Wick Environmental Health office since 2006. She attended Lybster Primary School, then Wick High School before going to the University of Strathclyde in 2004. She obtained a first class BSc (Honours) Environmental Health degree in 2008. She still lives in Lybster.
 
To qualify as an Environmental Health Officer students must obtain the BSc (Honours) Environmental Health degree or an MSc in Environmental Health. They must then complete a minimum of 48 weeks structured practical training with a local authority. On completion of the training they sit the professional examinations in seven subject areas.
 
The full list of awards Alana received at the REHIS (Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland) Professional Examinations 2009 is:

• AMM Connell Award for the Best EHO Student;
• FSA Scotland Award for the Best Candidate in the Food Standards Programme Area;
• FSA Scotland Award for the Best Candidate in the Food Safety Programme Area;
• (Joint Winner) HPS Award for the Best EHO Student in the Public Health Programme Area.
 
Civic Leader for Caithness, Highland Councillor David Bremner said: “Congratulations to Alana on her staggering list of academic achievements. I am delighted that Highland Council has been able to provide her with employment during her period of student training and hope that we can continue to keep such shining home grown talent within the County.”
 
Alistair Thomson, Highland Council’s Head of Environmental Health & Trading Standards said: “Alana has worked hard throughout her training and it is great that she got such tremendous results. We are very proud of her and are sure she will have a very successful career in future.”
 
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