Prizegiving 2020

A salute to the achievements of Abertay prizewinners and the generosity of our donors

Congratulations to all Abertay prizewinners for 2020!

To be outstanding in your field is difficult at any time. Your achievement is all the greater because of the unprecedented circumstances and challenges of studying in 2020.

Watch the full message from Professor Nigel Seaton.

Messages from our Donors - Gameelah Ghafoor, NCR

Watch an inspirational message to Abertay prizewinners from Gameela Ghafoor, Executive Director of Software Engineering, NCR, Dundee. NCR is the kind sponsor of a number of prizes.

Gameelah Ghafoor, NCR Prizes, SDI

Messages from our Donors - Alastair Scott

Watch a warm message to prizewinners from Alastair Scott. For many years, the Scott family has been the generous donor of the Scott Prize for a first year Marketing or Business student from the School of Business, Law and Social Sciences. 

Alastair Scott, Scott Prize, BLSS

Messages from our Donors - Fiona Stirling

Watch Fiona Stirling, a counselling lecturer of Abertay University, deliver a warm message to prizewinners on behalf of the Sarah Fletcher Memorial prizes. These prizes are given to a Counselling student and a Mental Health Nursing student each year from the School of Applied Sciences.

Fiona Stirling, Sarah Fletcher Memorial Prize, SAS

Messages from our Donors - Elizabeth Carnegie

Watch Elizabeth Carnegie, speaking for the David Carnegie Awards, congratulate Abertay prizewinners. The David Carnegie Awards have supported prizewinners from the School of Design and Informatics for a number of years. 

Elizabeth Carnegie, David Carnegie Prizes, SDI

Prizewinners - School of Business, Law and Social Sciences

A roll-call of prizewinners by award within the School. Many congratulations. 

School of Business, Law and Social Sciences Prizes and Awards

Prizewinners - School of Applied Sciences

A roll-call of prizewinners by award within the School. Many congratulations.

School of Applied Sciences Prizes and Awards

Prizewinners - School of Design and Informatics

A roll-call of prizewinners by award within the School. Many congratulations.

School of Design and Informatics Prizes and Awards

Sponsor Quotes

David Carnegie Trust “The prizes from the David Carnegie Trust were instituted by his parents and friends in memory of a student of Game Design and Production lost to a rare form of meningitis in his final year at Abertay. They are to encourage others to develop the career that he might have enjoyed.”
Jennifer Gallagher, Family Law Association Family Law Association Prize “Very well done to Matthew from everyone at the Family Law Association. The Association is happy to sponsor a prize at Abertay University. Well done to all of the students on their achievements in what has proven to be a very challenging year for everyone.”
Martin Dowling, CIPD Mid-Scotland Branch Education Officer CIPD Mid-Scotland Branch Prize “The Mid Scotland Branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is pleased to support the educational and professional work of the University by providing its Branch Prize to the best student in the University’s MSc in International Human Resource Management programme of study. The Branch Prize recognises the success of students in combining both the practical and academic skills involved in developing the future talent that all organisations need to achieve their objectives. This year, the Branch Prize is awarded to Ms Kirsty Moss and we offer Kirsty our congratulations on her award of the MSc and the Branch Prize. In doing so, we also recognise the tremendous work put in by all students on the MSc programme and we celebrate their success alongside that of this year’s prize-winner.”
Gameelah Ghafoor NCR Prizes ‘Success arises from more than just ‘hard work’. It comes from dedication, innovation, integrity, performance, team work and courage. These are values which guide NCR and we want to recognise students who have shown the same values during their time at Abertay. These are values which will serve Abertay University prize winners well in their future endeavours.’
Institute of Biomedical Science IBMS President’s Prize “Biomedical science graduates of today are poised to influence tomorrow. Many will become leaders in their field and achieve huge success for themselves and others. The Institute is proud of all its graduates and is pleased to see this success celebrated as widely as possible through the award of its President’s Prize at every graduation event and recognition of the graduate’s achievements as they take the next step of their professional development.”
Institute of Civil Engineers Prize ‘’The Tayside and Fife Branch of ICE Scotland are proud to continue to recognise and support the Civil Engineering students at Abertay University. Abertay are one of our key academic partners in the local area. We as a branch, are keen to ensure we can provide any support we can - through our network of professional, graduate and student members - to all of Abertay’s emerging students. In the hope they will grow and develop into the Engineers of the future we so dearly need in our society.’’
Claire Pearce, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, NHS Tayside Tayside NHS Board Prize “I am delighted that we continue to recognise the achievement of undergraduate Mental Health Nursing at Abertay University.The value and contribution of Mental Health Nurses to our communities has never been more important. I would like to congratulate the winner and thank all undergraduate Mental Health students at the University.”
Brian Frame, Managing Director Rautomead Ltd Prize “We are very pleased to sponsor the Rautomead Prize at Abertay University for yet another year. This has been a longstanding commitment from Rautomead to the University as a means to recognise and reward commitment and achievement in final year students, and we hope that the prize will provide this year’s winner with a small but very well deserved token of congratulations from our company. “
Royal Society of Biology Royal Society of Biology Top Student Award “The Royal Society of Biology’s (RSB) Top Student Award rewards the achievements of outstanding undergraduate biologists by publicly recognising their skills and abilities. We take great pleasure in awarding Michael Melvin the RSB’s Top Student Award 2020, for Abertay University”
Colin Graham, Thorntons’ Chairman Thorntons Law Prize “Awards like these are a fantastic way to identify future stars of the legal profession and we are proud to be a sponsor once again. The Abertay prize giving offers students the encouragement and credit they deserve for excelling in their studies. We wish them all the best of luck for their future careers.”
Honorary Fellows Prize for Innovation Jim Adamson, Honorary Fellow “Innovation and creativity are essential to reviving the economy and creating jobs that will replenish our treasury,sustain our public services and provide wealth to sustain us. Products and services to sell at a profit are needed more than ever so commerce and trade must be given top priority with major support for the private sector . this is the only place where the national wealth is created. Innovation is the key.”
Colin Den-McKay A D D McKay Senior Prize “First, my sincere congratulations to Matthew Stark from your BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology programme. He must be the 50th recipient of my grandfather’s award, so I am delighted to acknowledge this special landmark and to wish Matthew every success and fulfilment in the years to come! Secondly, it is gratifying to see the University tackling huge pandemic challenges in such a positive and imaginative manner. A.D.D. McKay’s legacy is in good hands, for which I remain immensely grateful.”
Alastair Scott, Honorary Fellow “Innovation is the way out of our recession due to Covid 19, and should be encouraged to the hilt !!”
June Thomson and Lynne Hederson The Sword Prize for Sport “The Sword family is delighted to support the sports prize. The decision to create the prize was our dad’s (Bill Sword) - he was an “Abertay man” through and through, from his start in business, in which the then Dundee College of Technology was instrumental, and throughout the rest of his life.”
Gill Smith Hannah Maclure Prize “It has been a challenging year particularly for the University’s students and I hope this year’s Prizegiving gives all the recipients a well earned boost. I know Myra Falconer, the donor of the Hannah Maclure prize, would be delighted and proud of each one of the recipients and hope that they will be encouraged to go on to further studies and achievements.”
Helen Davies, Chair of the Educational Accreditation Committee Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences Prize “The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences has recognised the achievement of Pernille Anderson for the Most Meritorious Undergraduate Honours Project, 2019-2020, at Abertay University. Congratulations to Pernille on producing the best piece of research in the toughest of years. The Society hope that the Award will bring opportunities Pernille’s way.”
ICAS Charles Scott Prize ‘’In what has been an extraordinary year, this prize continues to be a great opportunity to reward the hard work of Abertay accounting students who are standing out in their peer group. Congratulations to Darren on his award which we trust will help provide a good foundation to him in an increasingly competitive marketplace.’’
Dr Hazel McLaughlin, BPS President British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award “The BPS is delighted to be able to support this award at Abertay University. We recognise the significant contribution and support for budding psychologists and the work to develop the psychology talent of the future.Congratulations from all of us to Amy Wright for her fantastic work and achievements on Abertay’s sport and psychology course.”
Scottish Geotechnical Group Prize “The Scottish Ground Engineering Group offers this prize to Abertay University every year. We want to encourage students with an aptitude and interest in geotechnical engineering to engage with the ground engineering industry. We want energetic minds to and connect so that new ideas can be exchanged and knowledge can be shared. This is what will keep ground engineering in Scotland dynamic and innovative.”
Noele McClelland, Partner at Thorntons Law LLP Sociology of Culture and Civilisation Prize “Thorntons is delighted to sponsor the prize for Sociology of Culture and Civilization and congratulates Paul Callaghan on winning this. Abertay’s prize giving is such an important part of recognising the hard work and achievements of its students.”
BCS – Chartered Institute of IT Award “BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT – believes that working with universities and their students will help nurture a generation of ethical professionals that will continue to provide a safe, inclusive and progressive society enabled by technology. BCS Tayside & Fife Branch are pleased to sponsor the prize won by Isabel Hoekstein for her project work in Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security while studying on Abertay University’s world renowned MSc course.”
David Carnegie Trust “The prizes from the David Carnegie Trust were instituted by his parents and friends in memory of a student of Game Design and Production lost to a rare form of meningitis in his final year at Abertay. They are to encourage others to develop the career that he might have enjoyed.”
Jennifer Gallagher, Family Law Association Family Law Association Prize “Very well done to Matthew from everyone at the Family Law Association. The Association is happy to sponsor a prize at Abertay University. Well done to all of the students on their achievements in what has proven to be a very challenging year for everyone.”
Martin Dowling, CIPD Mid-Scotland Branch Education Officer CIPD Mid-Scotland Branch Prize “The Mid Scotland Branch of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development is pleased to support the educational and professional work of the University by providing its Branch Prize to the best student in the University’s MSc in International Human Resource Management programme of study. The Branch Prize recognises the success of students in combining both the practical and academic skills involved in developing the future talent that all organisations need to achieve their objectives. This year, the Branch Prize is awarded to Ms Kirsty Moss and we offer Kirsty our congratulations on her award of the MSc and the Branch Prize. In doing so, we also recognise the tremendous work put in by all students on the MSc programme and we celebrate their success alongside that of this year’s prize-winner.”
Gameelah Ghafoor NCR Prizes ‘Success arises from more than just ‘hard work’. It comes from dedication, innovation, integrity, performance, team work and courage. These are values which guide NCR and we want to recognise students who have shown the same values during their time at Abertay. These are values which will serve Abertay University prize winners well in their future endeavours.’
Institute of Biomedical Science IBMS President’s Prize “Biomedical science graduates of today are poised to influence tomorrow. Many will become leaders in their field and achieve huge success for themselves and others. The Institute is proud of all its graduates and is pleased to see this success celebrated as widely as possible through the award of its President’s Prize at every graduation event and recognition of the graduate’s achievements as they take the next step of their professional development.”
Institute of Civil Engineers Prize ‘’The Tayside and Fife Branch of ICE Scotland are proud to continue to recognise and support the Civil Engineering students at Abertay University. Abertay are one of our key academic partners in the local area. We as a branch, are keen to ensure we can provide any support we can - through our network of professional, graduate and student members - to all of Abertay’s emerging students. In the hope they will grow and develop into the Engineers of the future we so dearly need in our society.’’
Claire Pearce, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, NHS Tayside Tayside NHS Board Prize “I am delighted that we continue to recognise the achievement of undergraduate Mental Health Nursing at Abertay University.The value and contribution of Mental Health Nurses to our communities has never been more important. I would like to congratulate the winner and thank all undergraduate Mental Health students at the University.”
Brian Frame, Managing Director Rautomead Ltd Prize “We are very pleased to sponsor the Rautomead Prize at Abertay University for yet another year. This has been a longstanding commitment from Rautomead to the University as a means to recognise and reward commitment and achievement in final year students, and we hope that the prize will provide this year’s winner with a small but very well deserved token of congratulations from our company. “
Royal Society of Biology Royal Society of Biology Top Student Award “The Royal Society of Biology’s (RSB) Top Student Award rewards the achievements of outstanding undergraduate biologists by publicly recognising their skills and abilities. We take great pleasure in awarding Michael Melvin the RSB’s Top Student Award 2020, for Abertay University”
Colin Graham, Thorntons’ Chairman Thorntons Law Prize “Awards like these are a fantastic way to identify future stars of the legal profession and we are proud to be a sponsor once again. The Abertay prize giving offers students the encouragement and credit they deserve for excelling in their studies. We wish them all the best of luck for their future careers.”
Honorary Fellows Prize for Innovation Jim Adamson, Honorary Fellow “Innovation and creativity are essential to reviving the economy and creating jobs that will replenish our treasury,sustain our public services and provide wealth to sustain us. Products and services to sell at a profit are needed more than ever so commerce and trade must be given top priority with major support for the private sector . this is the only place where the national wealth is created. Innovation is the key.”
Colin Den-McKay A D D McKay Senior Prize “First, my sincere congratulations to Matthew Stark from your BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology programme. He must be the 50th recipient of my grandfather’s award, so I am delighted to acknowledge this special landmark and to wish Matthew every success and fulfilment in the years to come! Secondly, it is gratifying to see the University tackling huge pandemic challenges in such a positive and imaginative manner. A.D.D. McKay’s legacy is in good hands, for which I remain immensely grateful.”
Alastair Scott, Honorary Fellow “Innovation is the way out of our recession due to Covid 19, and should be encouraged to the hilt !!”
June Thomson and Lynne Hederson The Sword Prize for Sport “The Sword family is delighted to support the sports prize. The decision to create the prize was our dad’s (Bill Sword) - he was an “Abertay man” through and through, from his start in business, in which the then Dundee College of Technology was instrumental, and throughout the rest of his life.”
Gill Smith Hannah Maclure Prize “It has been a challenging year particularly for the University’s students and I hope this year’s Prizegiving gives all the recipients a well earned boost. I know Myra Falconer, the donor of the Hannah Maclure prize, would be delighted and proud of each one of the recipients and hope that they will be encouraged to go on to further studies and achievements.”
Helen Davies, Chair of the Educational Accreditation Committee Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences Prize “The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences has recognised the achievement of Pernille Anderson for the Most Meritorious Undergraduate Honours Project, 2019-2020, at Abertay University. Congratulations to Pernille on producing the best piece of research in the toughest of years. The Society hope that the Award will bring opportunities Pernille’s way.”
ICAS Charles Scott Prize ‘’In what has been an extraordinary year, this prize continues to be a great opportunity to reward the hard work of Abertay accounting students who are standing out in their peer group. Congratulations to Darren on his award which we trust will help provide a good foundation to him in an increasingly competitive marketplace.’’
Dr Hazel McLaughlin, BPS President British Psychological Society Undergraduate Award “The BPS is delighted to be able to support this award at Abertay University. We recognise the significant contribution and support for budding psychologists and the work to develop the psychology talent of the future.Congratulations from all of us to Amy Wright for her fantastic work and achievements on Abertay’s sport and psychology course.”
Scottish Geotechnical Group Prize “The Scottish Ground Engineering Group offers this prize to Abertay University every year. We want to encourage students with an aptitude and interest in geotechnical engineering to engage with the ground engineering industry. We want energetic minds to and connect so that new ideas can be exchanged and knowledge can be shared. This is what will keep ground engineering in Scotland dynamic and innovative.”
Noele McClelland, Partner at Thorntons Law LLP Sociology of Culture and Civilisation Prize “Thorntons is delighted to sponsor the prize for Sociology of Culture and Civilization and congratulates Paul Callaghan on winning this. Abertay’s prize giving is such an important part of recognising the hard work and achievements of its students.”
BCS – Chartered Institute of IT Award “BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT – believes that working with universities and their students will help nurture a generation of ethical professionals that will continue to provide a safe, inclusive and progressive society enabled by technology. BCS Tayside & Fife Branch are pleased to sponsor the prize won by Isabel Hoekstein for her project work in Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security while studying on Abertay University’s world renowned MSc course.”
TEF Silver Award
QAA Award
University of the Year for Teaching Quality
Athena SWAN
Race Equality Charter Mark
Cycle-friendly Employer
https://www.vam.ac.uk/dundee/
Healthy Working Lives Award
Living Wage Employer
Employer Recognition Scheme