Joint campus principal Wendy Brownlie welcomed parents, carers, family and friends to the prize-giving, which was held at the Pavilion in Rothesay, and thanked everyone for their support, saying: "You've helped us ensure that we're not just the building at the top of the hill, but that we're at the heart of the community."

School captain Jilly Thomson fulfilled her last duty in the role by providing a review of the 2009-10 session, including mentions of a visit to a RSNO concert in Glasgow, a workshop with the Scottish Youth Theatre, the Argyll and Bute Swimming Championship and work-shadowing placements both on and off the island.

After having hosted the school leavers' dance at Mount Stuart, Johnny Bute was in attendance to give some words of advice to those leaving the Academy to go on to work or to further or higher education.

Speaking of fellow Scots who've been recognised for their achievements, including Sir Chris Hoy, Gordon Brown, and closer to home, Lena Zavaroni, he said "They have passion for their field, a desire to better themselves, a competitive nature to be the best at what they do - we all have a responsibility to ourselves to do the same."

Reflecting on a period in which the young Johnny was considering which career path to take, he passed on some useful advice from his own father: "It doesn't matter what you do, as long as you do it properly.

"Doing a job properly gives you a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. My message to all of you is that as you head out into the world with the energy of youth, there are opportunities waiting for you, and be sure to follow your heart as well as your head.

"Life is there to be lived, so go out there, fulfil yourselves and enjoy life."

The prize-giving also had a new addition in the form of the newly
established Markwell Music Award.

It was presented by Dr Hazel Markwell, in memory of her mother-in-law, Mrs Margaret Markwell, who was born in Port Bannatyne and who died in November last year after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Dr Markwell explained how her mother-in-law had always loved music, even singing in the BBC Children's' Choir as a young girl, and how music was a great comfort to her in her fight with Alzheimer's, leading the family to inaugurate the award.

Academy Swing were in fine form as always, entertaining the audience with the overture from the highly successful school show Olivia.

On his final working day before retiring, the Rev Ian Currie presented the school's general excellence awards and principal prizes, and described the task as being an honour and privilege.

Mr Currie also said that during his five years serving as school chaplain, he had been moved by how hard the school works in all aspects of its life, and by the commitment and care shown by staff.

To mark the end of his chaplaincy, Mr Currie was presented with gifts on behalf of the students and the parents' association as a thank-you for his dedication to the Joint Campus during his time on Bute.

PRINCIPAL AWARDS

Rothesay Academy Prize for History (sponsored by Caledonian MacBrayne) - Keshet Shalit.

Rothesay Academy Prize for Geography (sponsored by Caledonian MacBrayne), James Bicker Prize for Physical Education, Telecom Service Centre Prize for Business Management, Rothesay Academy Prize for Administration (sponsored by Print Point) - Victoria Howard.

Leadership Prize, presented by the Rotary Club of Rothesay - Jilly Thomson.

Home Economics Departmental Prize for outstanding contribution to Hospitality (sponsored by Stuart McKale) - Rebecca Scott.

Rothesay Academy Prize for Graphic Communication - Nickolas Coles.

James S. Miller Memorial Prize for Biology (sponsored by Mrs McKirdy), Rothesay Academy Prize for Chemistry, John McKinnon Memorial Prize for Art and Design - Caitlin Spear.

W.S. Shaw Prize for Mathematics, Bute Charitable Trust Prize for English, Rothesay Academy Prize for French, Rothesay Academy Prize for German, Rothesay Academy Prize for Physics (sponsored by W. & J. Duncan) - Lewis Currie.

Golden Jubilee Cup and Prize for Hospitality: Practical Cookery, presented by the Bute Federation of the SWRI - Jenni Speirs.

Colin Stirling Memorial Trophy for the best all-round sportsperson - Phillip Toop.

Rothesay Academy Prize for Information Systems - Fiona Ross.

Duncan Wilson Memorial Trophy and Prize for best art work of the year - Rachel Maitland.

Citizenship Prize presented by Lloyds TSB Scotland (joint winner) - Kieran Parkins.

Citizenship Prize presented by Lloyds TSB Scotland (joint winner), Margo C.G. Kerr Memorial Prize for History - Yan Young.

Rothesay Academy Music Award and Markwell Music Award - Rhuairidh Soane.

Thomson Gold Medal and Rothesay Academy Memorial Prize for Science - Caitlin Spear.

Thomson Gold Medal and Rothesay Academy Memorial Prize for Mathematics, Thomson Gold Medal and Rothesay Academy Memorial Prize for English, Thomson Gold Medal and Rothesay Academy Memorial Prize for Modern Languages - Lewis Currie.

Thomson Exhibition Award and Gilmour Trophy - Rachel Maitland.

GENERAL EXCELLENCE

S1 - Megan Hislop, Marjorie Hogarth, Euan McGregor, Eva Benfield, Craig McLean, Duncan McLean.

S2 - Bonnie Caldwell, Jessie Docherty, Robbie Middleton, Amie Speirs, Ruth Sweeney, Aimee Daly, Mhairi McArthur, Tia Nicholson.

S3 - Hayley Chrystie, Sophie Duncan, Garry Macqueen, Alison McFarlane, Sophie-Jayne McKellar, Jack Power, Annie Fallows, Alan Prentice, Cameron Soane, Brodie Varney, Kevin Walmsley, Carly Wilcocks, Bethany Calder, Ryan Cobain, Matthew Dunn, Cameron Gibb, Eilidh MacNeil, Anthony Macqueen, David Murty, Briony Sweet, Nino Zavaroni-Robertson.

S4 - Ryan Currie, Stewart Howard, Christopher Jardine, Rhuaridh McGregor, Fraser Menzies, Moses Nderitu, Caitlin Parkins, Jake Rankin, James Roughead, Rachael Simpson, Jenna Speirs, Meghan Bagan, Kirsty Barrett, Amy Beverley, David Greer, Scott MacPhail, Josef Rae, Adam Steele, Max Alexander, Fiona Ewing, Caitlin Fowler, Niall Hendry-Chynoweth, Craig Macfie, Ross MacKenzie, Megan Poole.

S5 - Ben Hatton, Stephanie Reid, Nicolle Paterson, Jennifer Stewart.

S6 - Sean Catlin, Stewart Hogarth, Lydia Nellis, Jana O'Donnell, Hannah Bailey, Liam Hendry-Chynoweth.

Intermediate Two Awards were also presented to Adam Bellshaw for history, Max Jamieson for chemistry, Jordan Morrison for physical education, Scott Prentice for biology, Colin Shaw for mathematics and physics, Rhys Shearer for geography, and Alex Stokes for biology.

Endeavour awards

S1 - Max Allan, Daniel Bartsch, Liza Brew, Neive Colman, Faith Harding, Matthew Leitch, Ryan Leitch, Russell Menzies, Chelsea Mullin, Steven Shearer, Joseph Wollnough, Ryanna Anderson, Mollie Bagan-Edwards, Natasha Crawford, Abigail Docherty, Chloe Glen, Shannon Gordon, Kairene Horsburgh, Jo Jo Kane, Craig Middleton, Nisha Middleton, Charmaine Minnes, India Quinn, Stephanie Shields, Edward Caldwell, Zoe Clark, Jemma Close, Ailsa Dunn, Amy Dunn, Lex Elliott, Caitlin Fenner, Hannah Hendry, Ross Hinshelwood, Kalum Ledicott, Alice McMillan, Kieran Paterson, Sandeep Singh, Arran Skinner, Daniel Sweet.

S2 - Hayley Ewing, Deanna MacDonald, Becky Masterson, Ryan McCulloch Kean, Chloe Nellis, Daniel Stenhouse, Alistair Watson, Lian Williams, Kaja Dobosz, Rosa Edwards, Aimee Gilmour, Pia Haddon, Paige Morrell, Megan Morrison, Tavis Rodgers, Ben Sayers, Mitchell Scott, Daniella Wokes, Chloe Woolcott, Tamla Cunningham, Matthew Daniels, Robert Deans, Katelyn Gordon, Daniel McDermott, Joshua McFadden, Abigail Planck, Cameron Shaw, Laura Sprowl.

S3 - Josh Bartsch, Sarah Catlin, Leanne Chisholm, Kenneth Johnson, Anthony Kerr, Jacob McEwan, Liam Gaillard, Alana Graham, Alishia Hendry, Ben Kane, Anthony Lench, Luke MacDonald, Kayleigh MacKenzie, Elleyse McDonald, Adam Stirling, Joanne Thomson, Charlotte Wilson, Bethan Dooley, Nicky Jardine, Becky Lambert, Joe Livingstone, Erin MacKay, Morgan McFarlane, David McLaughlin, Jamie Mullin, Jaryd Officer, Alison Shaw.

S4 - Naomi Campbell, Jade Devlin, Rhiannon Gallacher, Ryan McKirdy, Clara Thomson, Joanne Thorburn, Amy Garrod, Joshua Jamieson, Kelsey McClelland, Ross McGinty, Amie Porter, Rebecca Shaw, Lauren Bailey, Fiona McCartney, Caitlin McKellar, Conor Toon.

S5 - Claire McKirdy, William Tily, Samantha Gilchrist, Chantelle Lilley, Jessica Reid, Ashley Shanks, Amy Williams, Laura Hampson, Rachel Shennan, Nina McDonald.

S6 - Yasmine Harding, Eilidh McArthur.