Benjamin de St Paer-Gotch Awarded 2011 Revell Research Systems Prize

I was very pleased to present Benjamin de St Paer-Gotch with the 2011 Revell Research Systems Prize at the University of Plymouth on Wednesday, 21st September 2011 during the graduation ceremony.

The prize, which the consultancy established in 2006, is awarded to the top student to graduate from the university’s BSc(Hons) in Computing suite of degree programmes. In essence, it means that Benjamin is the best student to graduate in the subject from Plymouth this year. The Revell Research Systems Prize is specifically designed to highlight this fact on CVs and the like, providing the recipients with an additional way to mark themselves out from the crowd - not just a First, but the very best.

Benjamin de St Paer-Gotch (left) receiving the 2011 Revell Research Systems Prize at the University of Plymouth from Alastair Revell (centre), while Professor Steve Furnell, Head of Computing and Mathematics looks on (Photograph courtesy of Ted Draper).

Benjamin de St Paer-Gotch has already been snatched up by Microsoft, where he recently was employed as an Associate Consultant and is now enjoying the benefits of their graduate recruitment programme.

I’m grateful to Ted Draper, who was at the ceremony to present the BCS The Chartered Institute for IT’s project prize, for capturing Professor Steve Furnell (Head of the School of Computing and Mathematics) and myself congratulating Ben on stage just after the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Purcell, had conferred his degree.

Students from Plymouth graduate in marquees on The Hoe overlooking Plymouth Sound, which is a truly spectacular location to graduate. The location is certainly an iconic symbol of this great maritime city, from which the Pilgrim Fathers left in search of a new future. Likewise, graduates leave this city seeking their own futures, but with a solid education, they are assured of success.