Iana Molotok receives Student of the Year Award 2016

It’s been a week of double celebration at the Chippendale International School of Furniture.

The school, between Haddington and Gifford, is Scotland’s only furniture design school and has an international reputation as a place of teaching excellence.

This week saw the school’s 2015-16 students graduate, with Iana Molotok from St Petersburg becoming the first Russian in the school’s 31 year history to win the prestigious Student of the Year Award.

The graduates were all presented with their certificates by East Lothian MP George Kerevan.

Earlier in the week, at an exhibition and reception in Edinburgh, student Graham Clark was presented with the Professor Richard Demarco Prize 2016.

In 2011, 58-year-old Graham was knocked off his motorbike by a hit-and-run driver, sustaining both head and other severe physical injuries, and had to relearn how to read and write.

Graham Clark and Professor Demarco

The beautifully-crafted cabinet which won him the prize is to be a gift for his youngest daughter Madison.

This year’s students came from the UK, Canada, USA, Germany, France, Ireland, Russia, New Zealand and Australia.

“George, Iana and all the students have shown enormous talent and dedication during their course and we all wish them every success for the future,” said Anselm Fraser, the school’s principal.