Double celebration for UHI Inverness as graduates Jeniffer Simpson from Alness in Easter Ross and Stephanie McKenna from Fort William win prestigious academic prizes
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UHI Inverness is celebrating a double success after two of its recent graduates won separate national prizes from prestigious institutions.
Alness woman Jeniffer Simpson’s literature review on the dental benefits of drinking green tea has won the New Communicator Award for undergraduates from the British Dental Industry Association/British Dental Editors and Writers Forum (BDIA/BDEWF).
And Fort William resident Stephanie McKenna’s final-year dissertation on the psychological impact of wild swimming has won The Jonathan Sime Award from the University of Surrey.
Jeniffer, who studied a BSc Oral Health Science at the Centre for Health Science, said: “I was completely shocked at having won the award considering I didn’t even know I had been nominated.
“I also didn’t even know there was this type of award out there. Now that I have had time for it to sink in, I am extremely flattered and privileged to receive it, especially as the members of the BDIA/BDEWF are some of the most influential and revered names in dentistry.
“It has given me a huge confidence boost and a new sense of pride in my research and writing abilities.”
She is now a fully qualified dental therapist and Professor Chris O’Neil, principal and chief executive of UHI Inverness, said: “Our warm congratulations go to both Stephanie and Jeniffer.
“We are so proud that the papers they wrote as part of their studies at UHI Inverness have been judged by prestigious British institutions as being the best. Their awards say a great deal about the exceptional academic abilities of our students and the high quality of the teaching at UHI Inverness.”
Stephanie (22) from Fort William said: “I’m incredibly delighted to be the 2022 recipient of the Jonathan Sime Award, and the first from a Scottish University.
“I’m excited to share my research with a wider audience, conveying the importance of active engagement in nature to improve our health and the health of the places we call home. My dissertation was an eye-opening journey which I thoroughly enjoyed and so I want to thank everyone that supported me throughout the process.”
