Two St Andrews graduates who overcame the odds to succeed were singled out for their outstanding achievements while collecting their degrees.
Fiona Woodhall and Saad Attieh were awarded the Principal’s Medal during a graduation ceremony at the university’s Younger Hall.
Ms Woodhall, who graduated with a first-class Master’s degree in chemistry with medicinal chemistry, was recognised for her “selfless willingness to improve the experiences of others in St Andrews”.
Acting principal and vice-chancellor Professor Garry Taylor said: “Her academic brilliance is matched by an inspirational attitude towards life.”
As well as taking on the role of class representative in the School of Chemistry, Ms Woodhall helped run the Students’ Association and was a member of the entertainment committee.
She played a key part in organising events including student dramas and Raising And Giving Week.
Ms Woodhall now plans to follow the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, and will be returning to Leeds General Infirmary for the first time since she received open-heart surgery when she was six years old.
She said: “Working with the Students’ Association has been the most rewarding experience.”
Computer Science graduate Saad Attieh was recognised for his deep and thorough understanding of his subject.
Despite being fully blind, he can draw detailed diagrams, and simultaneously explain them to his audience.
Enthusiastic, committed, and an accomplished musician, Mr Attieh has completed several prestigious internships while a student at St Andrews, and also won a number of prizes including the Principal’s Scholarship for Academic Excellence.
He will be returning to St Andrews to study for his PhD.
Now in its seventh year, the Principal’s Medal was inaugurated thanks to the generosity of three anonymous donors and continues following a donation from Ede and Ravenscroft.
Mr Taylor said he was “honoured to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to recognise, publicly, the outstanding achievements of individual students”.
