Inside NCL's student Herald Education Award win

A student from New College Lanarkshire who underwent pioneering brain surgery and then went on to campaign successfully for a life-changing drug to be approved in Scotland has been named Outstanding College Student at The Herald Education Awards 2026.

Brooke MacFadyen, 26, from Coatbridge, was diagnosed with a grade II brain tumour before enrolling on an Access to Teaching course at NCL.

She has since become a prominent advocate for The Brain Tumour Charity and played a role in the campaign to secure Scottish approval of vorasidenib, a drug which is shown to slow tumour growth and delay the need for chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

In March 2026, the Scottish Medicines Consortium approved the drug for prescription in Scotland, making it the first part of the UK to do so.

Speaking after the ceremony, Brooke said: "It feels absolutely unreal. If you'd taken me back to 2024 – when I got my surgery and everything that set this off – I wouldn't have believed I was even at college, never mind getting an award like this."

Her mother, Kelly Brannan, was in attendance and described watching her daughter's journey as both harrowing and humbling.

"It's the most traumatic thing I've ever watched her go through," Kelly said. "But she just took it all in her stride. She gets up and gets on with it. She's an inspiration to me and the rest of the family."

Fellow student and close friend Shannon O'Neill said the award was fully deserved.

"She never took on any of the negativity – she just strived to get on with life," Shannon said. "She's always there to help others, always there to compliment and lift everyone's spirits up. Anyone who crosses paths with Brooke MacFadyen should feel privileged, because you've gained a friend for life and someone who will be in your corner no matter what."

Despite still experiencing seizures and fatigue as part of her ongoing recovery, Brooke has performed strongly academically and holds provisional acceptance to three university courses.

Away from her studies, she has run awareness stalls on campus, met with MSPs including Fulton McGregor and Monica Lennon, and inspired her own community – including a group her grandmother attends, the Shettleston Keenagers, who raised over £1,000 for the Brain Tumour Charity.

NCL Principal Professor Christopher Moore said Brooke "represents the very best of New College Lanarkshire – in fact, the very best of Scotland."

Brooke credited the support of the college and The Brain Tumour Charity with helping her reach this point.

"It got me through everything," she said, "and it's still there to support me and other young people and absolutely everybody affected by brain tumours."