Niamh Treacy, who is studying Interior Architecture at RGU's Scott Sutherland school, has been announced as regional winner of the Association of Women in Property (WiP) National Student Awards 2008.

Niamh wins £500, and will visit Houston through the WiP links set up at OTC in 2007. Last year's trip to the US resulted in one finalist being taken on for a year's placement in Houston - an invaluable experience for a trainee architect.

The Women in Property National Student Awards were launched in 2007 to mark the 20th birthday of the Association. Fuelled by their success, WiP is again running the scheme with 25 Universities putting forward their rising stars, a total of 41 of the most talented students from across the country.

The Awards are open to second year, female students studying a Built Environment Course and are run in conjunction with the Construction Youth Trust (CYT).

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Niamh will now go head-to-head with winners from nine other regions across the UK, in a national final for a prize of £1,000 as the 'Best of the Best' which takes place at Claridge's in London on 23rd September.

Commenting on her achievement, Niamh said: "This is great news, I am delighted! Winning the regional award will help me so much in terms of giving me opportunities I wouldn't have had before, to develop my skills and experience. It has also really helped improve my interview techniques, ready for the final judging panel in September."

Rhona MacLean, regional Chairman, North-east of Scotland branch of WiP, said: "We are delighted for Niamh. This is a very tough competition, with the brightest and most impressive students in her field coming forward. The links our committee member Isobel Maughan of ASM has set up during OTC has been an invaluable experience for them - it is a real boost to Niamh's career to have this opportunity."

George Parsons, managing director of Banchory Contractors, who sponsors the awards in Aberdeen, said: "This initiative is exactly what the industry needs. We need to make it as easy as possible for girls and young women to choose property and construction for their careers. Not only is there a wide skills shortage in the industry but the ratio of women to men is still far too low. We are very happy to support WiP in its quest to raise awareness to this issue."

The Awards are facilitated by CYT who invite Universities to nominate their best students. Panels of high profile judges then deliberate on the regional nominees.

(GK/JM)