A FORMER international badminton player has retained her position as student vice-president at East Lothian’s university.

Megan Richardson graduated from Musselburgh’s Queen Margaret University with a BSc (Hons) Podiatry.

The 22-year-old is a former badminton player and was in good company at the university’s graduation ceremony, held in Edinburgh last month.

The ceremony at the city’s Usher Hall saw television presenter Prue Leith CBE officially installed as the university’s new chancellor and the Hollywood producer Iain Smith receive an honorary degree for services to the film industry.

Megan’s mum Ann and dad David watched with pride as their former Knox Academy pupil daughter took to the stage to be capped by the new Chancellor while her fiancé Barrie also joined them for the ceremony and for the celebrations back on campus.

When Megan, of Monkrigg Steading, south of Haddington, first came to Queen Margaret University, she had been playing badminton at junior international level.

She said: “I was rather anxious as to how I would fit in living at home and having minimal time on campus.

“However, the small class sizes and the support and encouragement of my lecturers and personal academic tutor meant I was able to achieve my grades, enjoy my classes and still compete.”

Sadly, her sporting career came to an end due to injury and she became more involved in the sports and societies on campus and fully embraced her time at university.

She said: “If it wasn’t for this, I wouldn’t be in the fantastic position I am today.”

Despite graduating, Megan will not be leaving the university. She has been voted in to serve for a second term in office as the Student Vice President of the Students’ Union. This is a full-time, paid role and means 2017 will be her sixth year at the university.

Megan added: “I love every single minute of being able to work with the amazing students of QMU.

“My time at QMU has provided me with not only an honours degree but the best student experience possible, a course of study which I wouldn’t change for the world and university life that I’ll always remember.”