Top student is Oxford-bound

Jul 23 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A YOUNG scientist from West Lothian scooped every award available to him when he graduated from St Andrew’s University.

Craig Johnston (22), from Whitburn, has just secured a first class honours degree from the university.

But he also won four prizes and £1200 in cash for his sterling work as part of his course.

The former St Kentigern’s Academy pupil won The Irvine Jubilee Prize and Medal for the most distinguished student in chemistry 2009; The Gray Prize for the best essay in chemistry 2009; The Glaxo Smith-Kline Prize for the best final year research project in organic chemistry 2009 and The Forrester Prize for the best student in the honours class 2009.

He has also secured a funded place at Oxford University to study for his PhD in chemistry.

And his mum, Jean, and dad, Charles, of Gleneagles Court, Whitburn, say they are delighted by their son’s success.

Charles said: “We are both very, very proud.

“Craig won every prize he could have at university and is now going on to do his PhD at Oxford, so we are thrilled for him.

“It’s also really good news for St Kentigern’s because it shows what a good education Craig got there.”