Samuel Black
University of the Highlands and Islands student of the year and Scottish Association for Marine Science student of the year
Samuel Black, from Dunbar, East Lothian, was named the University of the Highlands and Islands student of the year at his graduation at the Oban-based Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI (SAMS) in autumn 2016. Earlier in the summer, Sam was named as SAMS student of the year, where the 22-year-old has been studying a BSc in marine science. Sam was selected for the award in light of his exceptional academic work, his enthusiasm and his contributions to SAMS UHI, the surrounding area and his local community. Also, earlier this year, Sam won the Tripartite Undergraduate Dissertation Prize, awarded annually for the best research project by a BSc student in marine science, engineering or technology. As well as achieving top grades throughout his four years at the Argyll-based institution, Sam also found time to set up a diving club, help children learn about the Arctic and take part in an extreme challenge to raise money for the charity, Breast Cancer Now.
Polly Crook, registry officer and lecturer explained: “Sam was a fantastic, hardworking student who achieved excellent grades. His enthusiasm for marine science, SAMS UHI and the surrounding area was hugely apparent. He chose to study in Svalbard in his third year and excelled in this environment; his passion for outdoor recreation coupled with his interest in Arctic science helped him to achieve impressive results.”
Speaking about becoming the University of the Highlands and Islands Student of the Year, Sam said: “I’m extremely honoured by the award and I’d like to thank all the staff and my fellow students at the Scottish Association for Marine Science UHI for their unrivalled help and support throughout my final year. I'm now studying an MSc in climate change at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, however SAMS UHI will always be my home university in my head and in my heart. You can take Sam out of SAMS, but you can’t take SAMS out of Sam!”