A special ceremony has been held to mark the success of a group of Bathgate Academy’s pupils.
Over 120 guests attended a special dinner and medal ceremony at Dundas Castle near Edinburgh to recognise the achievements of 10 pupils who took part in a 10-day expedition in Eastern Greenland with the youth charity, The Polar Academy.
During April, the pupils and Ellis McKay (pupil support manager) participated in the life-changing trip. To loud cheers and more than a few tears, a parent of each expedition team member presented their son or daughter with the prestigious polar medal.
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Looking on were family members and many of the growing number of supporters and patrons of The Polar Academy.
This included founding supporter, Tiso the outdoor adventure retail specialist and representatives of ski manufacturer, Åsnes Skis who travelled from Norway and attended wearing traditional Norwegian clothes.
Craig Mathieson, the Bo’ness-based expedition leader and founder of The Polar Academy, said: “Supported by the charity, their school and families, all at Bathgate Academy involved in this year’s expedition fully committed to the programme that included tough and regular physical training. Every week I could see their self-confidence steadily grow. In Greenland, whether tasked with navigating, cutting ice blocks or pitching tents, when the going got tough it was fantastic to watch everyone work as a team and to develop that all important ‘can do’ mentality.
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“I am so proud of these pupils who over the past nine months of committing to the methods of The Polar Academy have transformed into confident and resilient young men and women. They now know that with focus and effort the seemingly impossible can be achieved.”
Team member Adam Rayner (16) said: “I feel that The Polar Academy has changed me from being a quiet, shy follower to someone with the confidence to lead. I’m definitely much more confident. The Polar Academy has changed my life and I’m really going to miss it.”
And Alex Cochrane (15) added: “It’s an almost indescribable feeling to explain how grateful I am to Craig (Mathieson) and The Polar Academy for the opportunity to be part of the expedition team. It has been a truly life-changing experience. Since getting involved with the programme I’ve increasingly noticed small positive changes in myself.”
Over the past year the expedition team and their families fundraised £75,000 to support their expedition and the future work of The Polar Academy, a charity that’s wholly dependent on donations to operate.
Pupils on the expedition team will visit schools about their life-changing experiences. It is the fifth year that The Polar Academy has successfully selected and trained individuals from within Scotland’s secondary education sector.
The Polar Academy and the expedition team from Bathgate Academy will feature in a four-part documentary to be broadcast on BBC Scotland later this year. The 2018/2019 Polar Academy Expedition Team was again accompanied by expert guides Craig Mathieson, Nigel Williams, George MacHardy, Mollie Hughes and Dr Naomi Dodds.
