Principal’s Medal: Louise Anderbjörk
Presented by Professor Dame Sally Mapstone FRSE
Tuesday 1 July – afternoon ceremony
I would now like to introduce the Principal’s Medal. This award was inaugurated 16 years ago with a gift from three anonymous donors and is supported by Ede and Ravenscroft, believed to be the oldest firm of tailors and robe-makers in the world.
The award of the Principal’s Medal recognises students who display exceptional endeavour and achievement during their time at St Andrews. Up to three awards are available each year, to undergraduates and postgraduates, across our summer and winter graduation ceremonies, although the award will only be made if there are candidates of exceptional merit. The achievements celebrated are both academic and extracurricular. Today the Principal’s Medal is being awarded to two truly outstanding students, Louise Anderbjörk and Amar Singh Bhandal. I will now speak to the achievements of Louise Anderbjörk.
Louise Anderbjörk has just graduated with a first-class MA (Hons) degree in International Relations and Sustainable Development.
Louise is first and foremost a formidable scholar. She has repeatedly made the Deans’ List for outstanding academic achievement and the quality of her work is reflected in the inclusion of four of her articles in the University’s student-run Arts and Divinity Faculty Journal.
Louise’s excellence in the classroom is matched by her extraordinary dedication to student life and community engagement. She has completed over 850 hours of volunteering with the Students’ Association, earning the prestigious Platinum Volunteering Award. Her leadership within the Mermaids Performing Arts Fund has been particularly impactful. She progressed from Fringe Media Officer in 2022 to Executive Producer in 2023 and ultimately to Mermaids President in 2024. Under her leadership, Mermaids’ ticket sales at the Edinburgh Fringe increased by 80%, a testament to Louise’s strategic vision.
Such attainments are laudable in their own right, but they dazzle when contextualised by the breadth of Louise’s other contributions to our University, particularly her commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all students. As Mermaids President and Performing Arts Officer of the Students’ Association, Louise established a new engagement subcommittee within Mermaids. This initiative introduced an ‘open-to-all’ shadowing programme, creating inclusive opportunities for students of all experience levels. As Fringe Representative, she successfully negotiated increased financial support for students participating in the festival, making this invaluable experience more accessible.
Her involvement in student wellbeing has been equally pioneering. As Mermaids President, she developed the Students’ Association’s first wellbeing plan for the Edinburgh Fringe, filling a significant gap in student support. Louise also worked closely with students and staff to improve wellbeing resources for productions in St Andrews, including enhanced physical accessibility measures. Furthermore, she introduced wellbeing officers for all production teams – an initiative widely praised by the student community.
In her work with Mermaids, Louise has also been a driving force in preparing students for careers in the performing arts industry. She collaborated with the Careers Centre and members of our alumni community, in order to offer tailored CV advice and skill-building resources to students. She also established a Mermaids alumni network, connecting current students with over 30 professionals in the arts industry and facilitating shadowing opportunities at venues such as the Royal Opera House.
In recognition of her wide-ranging and sustained contribution to student drama at St Andrews, Louise was awarded this year’s McEuen Rose Bowl by the University Drama and Music Committee.
In addition to her leadership in the performing arts, Louise is a gifted photographer. She has photographed over 200 events, collaborating with Saints Sport, the Laidlaw Music Centre, and the Students’ Association. Her ongoing contributions to marketing and outreach have been invaluable, earning her long-term roles as the Laidlaw Music Centre’s in-house student photographer and as a member of the Students’ Association marketing team. Louise’s expertise in performing arts photography has also helped over 85 students to build professional acting portfolios, and she has mentored aspiring photographers through workshops and one-on-one guidance. Her extensive involvement with sports photography has earned her roles at major events, including the Boyd Quaich Golf Tournament and Scotland National Rugby training sessions, as well as a position with Scottish Student Sport’s media team.
Louise’s entrepreneurial spirit shines through in her founding of PRISMA Photography Magazine, an independent online monthly publication. Since its inception in her second year, PRISMA has grown into an international platform, publishing work from over 30 countries across 24 issues. Central to PRISMA’s mission has been Louise’s commitment to promoting emerging talent, ensuring that student and amateur photographers are featured alongside renowned professionals. Moreover, Louise has established PRISMA as a recognised media entity in Scotland, enabling St Andrews students to gain press accreditation at prestigious events, such as the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Looking forward, Louise intends to remain in the UK after graduation to develop her professional interests in theatre and photography, building on the connections she has already established with the vibrant performing arts industry here. She also hopes to continue her academic journey by pursuing Master’s level study in the area of International Peace and Development Studies.
Louise’s legacy at St Andrews is one of inclusive and innovative leadership. Her contributions to student wellbeing, community building, and access to opportunity have left a lasting mark on our community. Louise, in recognition of your many accomplishments both academically and personally during your time at St Andrews, it gives me great pleasure to bestow upon you the Principal’s Medal.