Bonar Bridge graduate celebrates academic success
Katie Sutherland, a 30-year-old from Bonar Bridge in the Scottish Highlands, has graduated from Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh with an undergraduate degree in Speech and Language Therapy – and a remarkable trio of awards.
Katie’s outstanding achievements include the Best Undergraduate Master’s Project Mark, Best Overall Performance in Fourth Year, and the Dean’s Student Citizenship Award, recognising her exceptional academic excellence and invaluable contributions to the university community.
Katie’s journey towards becoming a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) has spanned more than a decade. After 13 years gaining experience and knowledge of the sector, she excelled in her course at QMU, culminating in top marks during her final year.
Reflecting on her journey, Katie said: “I was inspired to become a SLT because, as an autistic person, I wanted to support other autistic individuals who face challenges with speech and communication. One of my proudest moments at QMU was completing my Master’s project in my final year, where I collaborated directly with autistic people to gather their feedback on a type of speech therapy being used with autistic teenagers. To my knowledge, this was one of the first in-depth projects of its kind, and it meant a great deal to contribute to increasing autistic representation in research - a space where our voices are often underrepresented.
I was grateful that QMU supported me in exploring this topic, especially as I initially had doubts about whether being autistic would make it possible for me to become an SLT. It turns out that not only is it possible - I’m thriving in this field. I hope my journey shows other autistic people that this profession is absolutely open to them too. I remember meeting a young woman at a QMU open day (at which I was volunteering) who said she didn’t think she could pursue speech and language therapy because she was autistic. I was proud to be able to tell her, “You absolutely can - I'm doing it!
During her time at QMU, Katie found a strong sense of belonging and support among both staff and students. She played an active role in university life, providing peer support and encouraging student engagement – efforts that earned her the Dean’s Student Citizenship Award.
Katie celebrated her graduation on 8 July at QMU’s second summer ceremony, an event made even more memorable by the presence of newly appointed University Chancellor and Great British Sewing Bee judge, Patrick Grant. The ceremony also honoured distinguished guests Ashley Jensen, star of BBC’s Shetland, and Shona McCarthy, former CEO of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.
Katie completed the MSLT in Speech and Language Therapy at QMU, a course that equips students with the skills to provide life-changing care for individuals with communication and/or swallowing difficulties across a wide range of settings.
