Former Pupil success

By Ballyclare High School on 10 September, 2020

Congratulations to former pupil Callum Irwin, who has recently graduated from Ulster University with a first class honours degree in Culinary Arts Management. In addition he is the recipient of the inaugural Ken Hom – Lee Kum Kee Scholarship.

Hosted by the Oxford Cultural Collective, the scholarship is designed to promote understanding of Asian culinary and hospitality cultures, and to reinforce Ken Hom’s commitment to promoting cross-cultural understanding. The scholarship will take Callum to Hong Kong, for an educational and cultural trip that will immerse him in the local culinary and hospitality culture – an ideal opportunity for someone who loves to travel.

For Ken Hom, Callum is a very worthy winner: “I am so impressed by his enthusiasm, his determination to build a successful career in hospitality and, most importantly, his love for learning. He sees every experience as an opportunity to absorb information, to grow as a person and to enhance his understanding of the world. That is a great example to others and it’s why we chose him to receive this award. Look out for Callum in the future – he is going to do great things in our industry.”

During his placement year he joined the acclaimed Muddlers Club restaurant in central Belfast, where he has remained employed throughout his studies and post-graduation. He was part of the kitchen team who secured Muddlers’ first Michelin star in 2019. He also acts as an Ambassador for Springboard N.I., a charity focused on attracting school-leavers into the hospitality sector. More recently, Callum has been assisting Ulster University with its Antonio Carluccio Outreach programme, a project focused on widening access to higher education for those who may not have considered this as an option.