Professor Peter John CBE talking at the Donors and Scholars Reception, on stage with donars, scholars and staff members surrounding.
Professor Peter John CBE talking at the Donors and Scholars Reception, on stage with donars, scholars and staff members surrounding.

Donors and scholarship recipients meet over afternoon tea in UWL’s Pillars restaurant

Intro

70 people gathered at a Donors and Scholars Reception on Thursday 30 March, an event where donors to student scholarships at UWL meet the students they are supporting this academic year.

Main body

Professor Peter John CBE talking at the Donors and Scholars Reception, on stage with donars, scholars and staff members surrounding.

As well as the donors and scholars, the event was attended by Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter John CBE, Provost and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Woodman, members of the Vice-Chancellors’ Executive and many of the Heads of Schools and Colleges.

The President and Vice-Chancellor in his opening speech said:

This year £120,00 was raised for scholarships and bursaries for students to complete and support their education. A warm welcome to those who’ve given so freely of their time and money to support many of the students who are here today. It is really appreciated. Sometimes you stand between a student failing and giving up or succeeding brilliantly. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to help the students with all the different scholarships and bursaries that you’ve supported over this last year.” 

Megan Russell, Eduards Grieznis and Maryam Ahmed (students) on stage at the Donors and Scholars event in Pillars restaurant.

Next, was a reading of Shakespeare’s sonnet 116 by student Megan Russell, recipient of the Laurence Llewellyn Scholarship, to introduce a performance of her composition piece based on it. This was then performed beautifully by pianist Eduards Grieznis and violinist Ugne Turcinaite. 

Lastly, there was a speech by student Maryam Ahmed, recipient of the Cathie Wallace Scholarship who shared what a difference it has made to her life after being in social care as a teenager, studying for her GCSEs while in a women’s refuge living on Universal Credit.

Tea cups, plates, cake and flowers presented on a table at the Donors and Scholars event with people surrounding.

Maryam said:

I couldn’t be more grateful for this scholarship. It’s changed my life. When I won it, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Someone cared for me and wanted to help me. I’d never felt that before. The scholarship has given me faith that I’m worth more than my upbringing. I can finally get the support and help I need. It’s shown me that I’m more than my past and I can embrace my future.” 

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