Published:
A third-year Heriot-Watt Architectural Engineering student has won the regional finals of the Women in Property Student Awards.
Jessica McGinniss came out on top of 137 nominees, whittled down to 14 finalists, to earn her place at the national final.
A panel of Architecture, Engineering, Development and Surveying professionals described Jessica as “confident and engaging, with a willingness to learn and adapt to her environment. Her presentation was well thought out and delivered. She highlighted how the industry needs to adapt and embrace new technologies in order for our buildings to adapt to our ever-changing environment.”
The Student Awards were started to find the best Built Environment degree students, highlighting to industry the necessity to link with universities early in the education process and also improve the students’ knowledge of the career options available to them.
Alex MacLaren, Senior Director of Studies, Architectural Engineering, said she was "delighted to see Jessica honoured in this way: her proactive engagement with industry has been apparent throughout her degree, and she embodies the collaborative, multidisciplinary ‘engineer of the future’ that our programmes seek to create. It’s wonderful to see this recognised by a high-profile organisation like Women in Property.”
Jessica said of her win, “I am thrilled and very proud to have won the Women in Property National Student Award for Central Scotland 2019! I am delighted and looking forward to representing my course, Architectural Engineering, and my university at the finals.”
As victor of the Central Scotland region, Jessica received a trophy, £300 and the opportunity to take part in Women in Property’s acclaimed mentoring programme. She will progress to the national final in London on 18th September, where she will go before a national judging panel, competing against 13 other regional finalists for the National Student Awards.