Dundee law graduate with Asperger syndrome set to receive Dean’s Medal

The Dean’s Medal is to be given to a University of Dundee graduate at the School of Law’s annual awards ceremony this evening.

Iqbal Mohammad, who recently graduated with an LLB (Hons), will be awarded the accolade by the dean of the law school, Professor Alan Page in recognition of challenges he overcame as a student with Asperger syndrome.

The Dean’s Medal is awarded only occasionally to any student who, in the opinion of the dean, has exhibited outstanding and exemplary efforts in the course of study.

Mr Mohammed said: “I am delighted to have been awarded the Dean’s Medal.

“It was completely unexpected because to my knowledge I was just getting my head down and getting on with the work, not realising that the academic and teaching staff were noticing all the hard work. My parents are also understandably proud of me getting the Dean’s Medal as well.”

Professor Page added: “My colleagues were unanimous in their praise of Iqbal’s determination and hard work in overcoming his challenges. The Dean’s medal is a fitting recognition of his achievements.”

Iqbal is one of more than 20 students from the law school who will have their outstanding academic performance recognised at today’s ceremony.

Prizes will be presented to students from all years of study, with several high-achieving undergraduates winning a number of awards.

The awards recognise exceptional achievements during the last academic year.

Kerry Armstrong, Iain Buchan, Kerri Montgomery and Christopher Taylor have won the “Harold How Memorial Award”, which is awarded to the student, or students, whose performance in their first year of their course is deemed by the Dean to have been the most meritorious.

Final-year student Rebecca Copeland will receive two awards, including the “Shenaz Kapoor Quaich”. This prize is awarded annually, at the discretion of the dean in consultation with the director of Languages, to the strongest-performing student in any of the languages studied as part of the LLB (Law with Languages) degree.

Other winners include Alexandru Iliescu, who will be presented with the “Henry Scrymgeour Prize in International Law of Marine Resources”, and Izzy Edmondson, who has won the inaugural “1 Garden Court Prize for Comparative Scottish & English Family Law”.

Programme leader Professor Stuart Cross congratulated the prize-winners, saying: “There is no better way to begin a new academic year than by publicly acknowledging the achievements of our students, and the dedication, hard work and commitment of those who teach them.”