A Paisley student has won this year's prestigious John Mather Trust Rising Star Award.

Georgia Raymond, a BA Hons Drama, Theatre, and Performance student at West College Scotland, was selected for the award which provides grants to help young people realise their potential in their career aspirations across a range of sectors.

A graduate with a First-Class Honours Degree in Drama, Theatre, and Performance in partnership with Queen Margaret University and West College Scotland, Georgia has exhibited an exceptional level of talent throughout her education.

Going beyond her academic achievements, she has shown commitment to her magna opera, developing theatre work highlighting social issues like illness and loss with her fellow students.

Previously, Georgia received the Student of the Year award from Ayrshire College in 2018.

Since then, she has juggled multiple roles- from being a support worker and deaf interpreter to supporting the Inkblot Collectives Deaf Theatre Club.

Inspired by her upbringing, brought up by a single, non-binary, and deaf parent, Georgia continues to forge a path in visual theatre accessible to a wider audience.

Her consistent efforts to contribute to wider projects during her time at university her professors and peers.

Una McDade, Performing Arts Lecturer at West, who guided Georgia through her studies, reflected on her student's journey.

She said: "Georgia has been a pleasure to work with as part of the BA (Hons) Drama Theatre and Performance course and I was delighted to nominate her for the John Mather Rising Star Award."

Driven by her desire to pioneer accessible theatre, she is currently creating work that uses puppetry to tell the stories we know in a novel and entertaining way.

With the funds provided by The John Mather Trust, amounting to £9,613, she aims to develop her proficiency as a puppeteer through workshops, more training, and procuring new equipment.

She said: "Winning the Rising Star Award means so much to me, I joined the BA (Hons) Drama, Theatre and Performance course in 2022 and it was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made.

"This award will allow me to progress within the arts by expanding my skills within puppetry, alongside a group of talented and creative people, to create a piece of work that can help me and others do what we love, whilst making connections and potentially go on to perform at festivals such as Manipulate."

Una said: "I look forward to seeing how Georgia goes on to develop her skills and to watching her work in the future."

The performing arts team at West College Scotland collectively extended their well-wishes and anticipated her climbing up the ladder, consolidating her strengths as she graduates from West College Scotland.