Principal’s Medal: Taylor Carey

Presented by Professor Louise Richardson

Congratulations to all our graduates.

I should now like to tell you about The Principal’s Medal, which is in its sixth year. The Principal’s Medal was inaugurated thanks to the generosity of three anonymous donors. They have established a fund which allows for awards to be made to students who display exceptional endeavour and achievement during their time at St Andrews. The awards are open to final-year undergraduates, and to postgraduates, in any discipline. The achievements celebrated are academic as well as sporting, musical, or other attainments. I am honoured to have been given such a wonderful opportunity to recognise, publicly, the outstanding achievements of individual students.

For the academic year 2014-2015, the Principal’s Medal will be presented to two extraordinary students, one of whom, Taylor Carey, just received his Degree of Modern History.

Taylor was nominated to receive the Principal’s Medal because of his outstanding intellectual and social contribution to the University throughout the course of his studies. Described by one of his supervisors as ‘a paragon’, Taylor has consistently put his first-class mind to good use here at St Andrews, regularly appearing on The Dean’s List for excellence, and the recipient of numerous School Medals. His sound grasp of complex arguments, and his clarity of thought and expression, are the envy not only of many a postgraduate student, but at least a number of more established academic colleagues. Away from his studies, Taylor has shown a generous commitment to the wider life of the University. As Senior Student at University Hall, Chief Usher at the Chapel, Vice-Principal Ambassador, and in many other ways, he has given freely of his time and considerable talents to the immeasurable benefit of our community. I was delighted to learn that he intends to continue his studies as a postgraduate student in St Mary’s College next session.

Taylor, in recognition of all that you have done and achieved during your time as an undergraduate, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to join me on stage now to receive your medal.