SAMS news room

SAMS undergraduate is UHI student of the year 2011

New university chooses its first ever student of the year

Accolade goes to "exceptional" marine science student Lewis Drysdale

An 'exceptional' young man who loves the sea and marine science has made history as the very first student of the year at the new University of the Highlands and Islands.

Lewis Drysdale, already the student of the year at the Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI (SAMS), one of the university’s 13 partners, was the unanimous choice of the four judges. He will be presented with £300 and a certificate at the SAMS graduation ceremony on 28 October.

Originally from Crieff in Perthshire and now living in Oban, Lewis said: "I am absolutely over the moon to receive this award. I hope this will help to highlight the excellent standard of teaching and extra-curricular opportunities available at SAMS and encourage other students to succeed at their chosen subjects. I will be using the prize money to buy a new laptop."

James Fraser, the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, and one of the judges, said: "Lewis is an outstanding student in his academic achievements, his service to the community and to other students. The high quality of the other entrants added to the meritoriousness of his award."

Other judges were Nathan Shields, president of the university’s students’ association, Garry Coutts, the rector, and Martin Wright, director of marketing and communications.

Mr Shields said: "I think it’s clear that Lewis is an outstanding student and very worthy of being student of the year at our new university. I was particularly impressed by Lewis’s focus on making the most out of his time as a student at SAMS UHI, as well as work he does for the benefit of the local community, the research centre, and his fellow classmates."

A former skipper on marine life survey vessels, Lewis, aged 30, is studying for a marine science degree. He is also a crew member of the RNLI Oban lifeboat and was formerly the deputy coxswain of the Tobermory craft on the Isle of Mull where he previously worked. He is also a fully-trained member of the Hyperbaric Treatment Centre at SAMS, able to help divers suffering from decompression.

His tutors have praised his hard work, ambition and enthusiasm – and described him as an exceptional student.

SAMS director Professor Laurence Mee paid this tribute to Lewis: "As a founding partner of the university, SAMS provides one of the best experiential learning environments for marine science in Europe. Lewis has wholeheartedly embraced the opportunities of studying here and has already made a big contribution to student life and the local community."

Dr Finlo Cottier, one of Lewis' lecturers, said: "There is no doubt that when Lewis graduates in a few years’ time he will be a fantastic ambassador for the Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI and will contribute to our strong reputation for marine science education."

Lewis has achieved consistently high grades in his first two years on the degree course, bringing his own experience of the marine environment to class discussions, as well as representing fellow students on the Education Quality Assurance Committee (EQAC), ensuring their voice is heard on a variety of issues affecting the learning experience.

He has also taken part in research activities at SAMS, including a Scottish west coast survey cruise aboard the UK research vessel RSS James Cook, testing large rock drill and long sediment coring on the north western UK shelf, and archived unique oceanographic records of Atlantic circulation and presented it in poster format.

Lewis recently returned from the Arctic where he took part in the three-week International Polar Year field school, aided with a grant from the University of the Highlands and Islands Development Trust student development fund.

 

ENDS

 

 

Media contact

Glenda Johnson

University of the Highlands and Islands media relations officer

T: 01463 279222

E: Glenda.Johnson@uhi.ac.uk

 

Notes to editors

• The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) covers the region, including Moray and Perthshire, in a partnership of 13 partner colleges and research institutions, and a network of over fifty outreach learning centres.
• UHI gained full university status in February 2011, evolving from UHI Millennium Institute, which was a higher education institution
• There are currently 8156 students studying on undergraduate and postgraduate courses or undertaking postgraduate research with UHI.
• UHI is the only university with campuses and headquarters based in the Highlands and Islands. Its mission is to strengthen and develop the social, economic and cultural prospects of the region. It uses a blend of learning methods, including traditional classroom face-to-face teaching, video-conferencing tutorials and lectures and virtual learning environments and other IT media.
• UHI is a limited company registered in Scotland No. 148203. Scottish charity No. SC022228. Registered office: 12B, Ness Walk, Inverness, IV3 5SQ

• The Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI (SAMS) was founded in 1884 by Sir John Murray. SAMS is among the oldest dedicated marine science organisations in the world working for sustainable seas. Based at the Scottish Marine Institute near Oban, SAMS conducts scientific investigations into all aspects of marine science from polar seas and marine renewables to the dynamic working of marine systems and the many ways people interact with the sea. SAMS also delivers education and commercial services.