Amidst a backdrop of joyous applause, the event marked a significant milestone in the academic journey of these bright and talented students.
On Wednesday 27 July, the School honoured the exceptional achievements of its graduating undergraduate students. The ceremony, held in the Great Hall at the heart of the Mile End campus, brought together academic staff, family, and friends to celebrate the culmination of each graduate’s many years of hard work and dedication.
Professor Frances Bowen, Vice-Principal for Humanities and Social Sciences, addressed the graduating students, most of whom had begun their studies in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020: “The challenges that you have overcome to achieve your degrees should not be underestimated. Your achievements and your resilience are an inspiration to us all. Every one of you will take a different path when you leave here today, but we hope that you carry with you the same optimism and ambition to make changes – large or small – that will shape the future of our economy and society.”
The event highlighted not only the collective accomplishments of the graduating class but also individual excellence. Several prizes were awarded to students for the outstanding contributions that they made to the life of the School during their studies.
The graduating prize winners included:
A.E. Smailes Prize: The award for best dissertation was given to Anastasia Hambi (BSc Environmental Science) for a project focusing on characterising the initial stages of soil development following glacial retreat in the high Arctic.
Azeezat Johnson Prize: Maya Chukujama (BA Human Geography with Year Abroad) and Yagmur Kilinc (BA Geography) were inaugural recipients of this award recognizing the best work on race and social justice in the School.
Environmental Science Prize: the highest performing Environmental Science student in the graduating class was Lara Ossenberg-Engels (BSc Environmental Science with Business Management).
Michael Alexander Jones Memorial Prize: the prize for the highest performing Geography student was awarded to Helena Hosking (BA Geography).
Roger Lee Prize: Pippa Watson (BA Geography with Year Abroad) received the award for best dissertation on a topic linked to economy, development and/or social justice.
Simon Tavana Writing Prize: the best creative writing for a final-year human geography student was awarded to Catarina Duarte Moreira (BA Human Geography).
Student Service and Contribution Award: Alix Werner (BSc Environmental Science) was awarded the prize for the student who has contributed most significantly to the School of Geography over their studies, most notably as co-chair of the Staff-Student Liaison Committee.
As our 2023 graduates step into the next chapter of their lives, they carry with them the knowledge, skills and values gained during their time at university. They all join the Queen Mary Network and we wish them well as they also become ambassadors of the School in the UK and around the world.
A full recording of the graduation ceremony is available on the QMUL YouTube channel.