The School of Social Science at the University of Aberdeen would like to congratulate the prize winners of the 2021-2022 graduating class for their outstanding academic output and success. Four prizes for best subject dissertation in anthropology, international relations, politics and sociology were awarded to Annie Nichol (studying anthropology), Zuzanna Medza (studying business management and international relations), Amaryllis Perotti (studying politics and international relations) and lastly Tereza Trojanova (studying sociology).
Anasuya Virmani, winner of the Most Successful Student Studying International Relations, found the experience of studying at the University of Aberdeen to be a window of opportunity to contextualize her knowledge within a global context: “I am grateful for the possibilities my studies gave me - I was able to step outside of Western frameworks and study global politics from a truly international perspective.” Anasuya was most impressed by Dr. Lekunze’s module 'Contemporary Challenges to African Security' and Dr May’s module ‘Political Islam: Islamist Ideologies and Practices'.
For Julie Sulser, winner of the Frank Bealey Prize, studying at the University’s Sir Duncan Rice Library was the key to her outstanding academic success and a method of escaping from the stresses of being a student during the pandemic: “Something I will remember very fondly from my time in Aberdeen is going to the Rice Cube with my friends for late-night study sessions. While we were all very stressed out at times, with uni, work, and covid, going through it together made it a really great time”.
Tereza Trojanova, recipient of the Mike Hepworth Memorial Prize for the highest mark achieved in a Sociology thesis, will be re-joining the School of Social Science in order to conduct her postgraduate education. Tereza enjoyed not only her study abroad, which was spent in Amsterdam, but also her academic supervision: "I very much enjoyed my supervision under Dr Sarah Burton because she had so many inspiring comments and ideas while supporting my own!". Tereza fondly remembers her undergraduate studies at the University of Aberdeen stating: "I am proud and grateful to have studied at the University of Aberdeen, mainly because of the friendly and supportive community where I could grow as a person!".
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The 2021-2022 prize winners by discipline:
Anthropology:
· Best Dissertation in Anthropology: Annie Nichol.
· Best Student in Anthropology: Jointly awarded to Astrid Offersen & Sara Schmidt.
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Politics and International Relations:
· Best International Relations Dissertation: Zuzanna Medza.
· Grant Jordan Prize for Best Politics Dissertation: Amaryllis Perotti.
· Most Successful Student in Politics: Iris Mansner.
· Most Successful Student Studying International Relations: Anasuya Virmani.
· Janet MacMurtrie Prize (open to all UG students and awarded for the best essay on a prescribed subject in international relations with particular emphasis on developing countries): Astrid Offersen.
· Frank Bealey Prize (awarded to student graduating in Politics and International Relations with the most successful grades in Junior and Senior Honours): Julie Sulser.
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Sociology:
· Best Student: Georgia Gray.
· Mike Hepworth Memorial Prize: Tereza Trojanova, with the highest mark achieved for a Sociology dissertation.