The department is happy to announce that the Samantha Kelly Memorial Prize for 2022-23 for First-year and Final-year students was awarded (£500 each). These two prizes are for Best Performance, encompassing academic achievement and overall contribution to the course in the award winner’s initial year of study. Congratulations to Charlie Rogers (first year winner 2022-23) and Charlie Clark (final year winner 2022-23)! Please read below for more information about Samantha Kelly and excerpts from the statements of the two prize winners about what the prize award means to them.
About Samantha Kelly: Samantha Oi Lin Kelly did her BA in Religion and Theology from September 2004 - July 2007. After graduating she went into brand marketing. She lived most of her life in Hong Kong. Samantha sadly passed away on 10 July 2012.
Excerpts from Charlie Rogers (First-year winner 2022-23): “During my time so far, I have loved learning about Buddhism in particular. Bristol University's theology department is very unique in the sense that it offers a wide range of religious traditions to study, this being the reason why I originally came here. … your [Mr Kelly’s] donation really does mean so much to me, and it will certainly be a massive help to me during the rest of my time at university.”
Excerpts from Charlie Clark (Final-year Kelly Prize winner 2022-23): “I would not have been able to pursue these interests without the support of the community here at Bristol. I am convinced there is no other RETH department in the country which can match the encouraging and friendly atmosphere that ours has created…. I only wish that more autistic people at university could be situated within a department such as ours - I am confident that this would change the statistics, and this department gives me hope that they will change for the better…. All else I can say is thank you again. I am humbled and extremely grateful. I’m sure your [Mr Kelly’s] daughter would be thrilled to know how much joy this award will have brought each recipient.”
We are grateful to Mr Kelly and the rest of the family of Samantha Kelly for their generosity in these prizes. Many thanks! May her memory be for a blessing.