On Friday 16 July, the School of Anthropology and Conservation came together to celebrate our final year students in an event that reflected on their time at Kent and also looked towards the future. Transmitting live from The Gulbenkian, produced by KMTV and hosted by Head of School Professor Tracy Kivell, she was joined by Dr Brandon Wheeler and Dr Tanya Humle to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2021 during these challenging and unusual times.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall
Kivell quoted Jane Goodall as an inspiration, to her personally, and whose message about the value we each create on our environment must never be underestimated.
‘I know many of you chose to come to SAC to do a degree in Anthropology, Conservation or environmental social sciences because you were curious about the world around you and humans within it. And that after 3 years with us, you have gained the skills you need to understand humans and our impact on our world, be within a tiny corner of Canterbury or as far away as South Africa or Bangladesh. We know you will go on do great things!
‘Those of us who work in the School never cease to be amazed and inspired by your enthusiasm, your novel ideas and your energy.’ she continued ‘Over the last year or so, we have sincerely missed being able to experience this enthusiasm and energy in person, and thus we are extremely proud of all that you have accomplished, particularly within the virtual classrooms in your kitchens and dorm rooms.’
Incoming Head of School Tanya Humle announced the following prizes:
The Darwin Award for the Highest class average for the BSc in Biological Anthropology/BSc in Anthropology with a 76.5 average- Charlotte Lawrence
The Gerald Durell Award for the Highest class average for BSc. In Wildlife Conservation/or the BA in Environmental Social Sciences with a 76.9 average -Rachel Brangan.
The Paul Stirling Award for Social Anthropology for the Highest class average in the BA Social Anthropology- with an average of 70 -Natashja Wilson
The Best BSc Anthropology/Biological Anthropology Dissertation (in SE533)- Charlotte Lawrence.
The Best BA Social Anthropology Dissertation (in SE534) – Maria Balan and Chloe Hunte who both earned a 75 on their dissertations.
She also recognised some of the outstanding PhD students who have helped to deliver some of our teaching this year. The Jess Small Graduate Teaching Award is a student and staff nominated award that recognises excellence in teaching, and this year the award goes to Laura Burke, a ESRC-funded PhD student in Social Anthropology. Also two Honourable Mentions for for Marcello Fontani, also a PhD student in Social Anthropology and Hella Peter, PhD student in Biological Anthropology.
Brandon Wheeler, SAC Director of Studies spoke of the inspiration he has received from the staff and student body at SAC.
‘I suspect that part of the reason that many of you chose to study with us is not only because you thought it would be an interesting course of study, but because you want to make the world a better place and saw the degree program you chose as a way of helping you achieve that goal. I cannot express the immense pride I have for my colleagues and our students that work tirelessly to make the world a better place – that devote their entire lives to it. It has honestly brought me to tears. In any case, I hope that these years that you’ve spent with us have been not only rewarding, but also challenging, because it’s overcoming challenges that strengthens us. And now being stronger human beings, you are well-positioned to make those changes in the world that you seek.
Congratulations to all our students!
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