York College student Samantha Keenaghan awarded Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation psychology prize

8:59am Friday 27th June 2014 in Education news

By Haydn Lewis, Education reporter

Marjorie Marks-Stuttle presents the Caroline's Rainbow Foundation psychology prize to student Samantha Keenaghan at York College.

A STUDENT from York College has scooped a prize handed out in memory of murdered York back-packer, Caroline Stuttle.

A -level psychology student Samantha Keenaghan has been awarded the Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation psychology prize which is presented each year in memory of former College student, Caroline Stuttle, who was murdered during her gap year in Australia in 2002. Caroline’s mother Marjorie Marks-Stuttle presented 18-year-old Samantha with a certificate and a token.

Samantha is a former Manor CE Academy pupil, and is studying A Levels in psychology, sociology, human biology and French. She is awaiting her results and hopes to go on to study a psychology degree at Durham University.

Psychology tutor Andrew Higgs said: “From day one Samantha has shown enthusiasm and quiet determination, blossoming into an outstanding student of psychology. She has been a pleasure to teach and I cannot think of a more deserving student to receive the Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation psychology prize.”

Samantha was delighted to be chosen to be this year’s prize winner, saying: "When I came to College I was excited to start studying Psychology - it was a brand new subject for me. I love that the subject deals with human behaviour and I enjoy seeing how theories can be applied to human life.

"My tutors have been fabulous, even though college has an independent learning environment they have always been there to offer support if needed. In the future I’m interested to work in clinical psychology, maybe working in hospitals.”

Mrs Marks-Stuttle said: "Like Samantha, my daughter loved studying psychology at York College and intended going to university to study the subject further. I am pleased to be able to present Samantha with this award on behalf of Caroline’s Rainbow Foundation, which in some small way will enable her to pursue a degree in the subject.”

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