22 June 2010

Terian dances to Wimberley Award - Graduation Tuesday June 22nd

(Terian will be available for photos around the Graduation ceremony - please contact Press Office to arrange)

Law graduate Terian Watson has danced her way to success after being named the winner of the 2010 Wimberley Award at the University of Dundee.

The Wimberley Award is given every year to a student who has exhibited outstanding and exemplary efforts or has made a distinguished contribution to the life of the University.

Terian (22), from Cupar, in Fife, graduates today (Tuesday June 22nd) with a 2:1 in Law but also happy that she has helped create what is now one of the largest student clubs at the University, the Dundee University Dance Club.

Terian, along with fellow student Victoria Harkins, established the club in 2008 and in the first year they managed to gain over 70 members and were crowned Advanced Jazz champions in the national university dance competition. Another year on and membership has surged past 120 and the club has picked up another national championship title.

Terian was also instrumental in organising the club’s first dance show, an event which sold out in two days and raised over £3000 for charity.

As well as all her dance activities, she also completed her Law studies, undertook work shadowing local child support services, held down a part-time job, and engaged in research work with ethnic minority young people in Dundee and Tayside as part of her dissertation project.

'I suppose I just enjoy being busy!' said Terian. 'It has been the most hectic two years of my life, establishing the dance club and working on that a lot while also finishing my degree but it has been worth it.

'I think Dundee was the only University in Scotland not to have a dance club when we started it, so it is fantastic that we have built up such a strong membership in such a short time.'

Terian is now hoping to return to the University next year to study for her Diploma in Legal Practice. She has also pledged to keep on dancing, while taking more of a back seat in running the club.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head, Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902