Four undergraduate students at the University of Stirling Management School have won coveted scholarships from Ryder Cup Europe, giving them financial support towards their studies.
The Ryder Cup takes place at nearby Gleneagles Hotel, from Tuesday 23 to Sunday 28 September, promising to be a fantastic sporting spectacle,
The University of Stirling is one of only three Scottish universities and colleges selected to benefit from a new bursary investment by Ryder Cup Europe – providing financial support to 13 students studying subjects relevant to the international golfing event.
Each of the chosen students has been awarded £2000 to help them pay for travel and accommodation costs and ensure they are able to make the most of their academic experience at Stirling.
The prestigious bursaries, which were presented to the students earlier this summer, were awarded to two third year and two fourth year students studying management and business-related courses. The successful students were Adelle Brotherton, Euan Steedman, Laura Harkins and Martin Coulter.
Euan Steedman, 20, who is studying for a Business Studies and Law degree, said he was delighted to be one of the lucky four selected from the University.
He said: “To see ambition and talent being recognised in you is very humbling. The scholarship has taken the weight off my shoulders in terms of balancing work and study in my final year and will provide me with the best start for a future in business.
“I plan to use the money to help support me as I look to secure a place on an internship and this will increase my future career prospects. The financial support will also allow me to reduce the number of hours I work, providing more time to dedicate to study in my final year.”
His words were echoed by fellow student Laura Harkins, 25, who is studying Accountancy and Finance. She said: “I feel privileged the Ryder Cup chose to make this financial investment in the University of Stirling Management School. It’s great recognition for the work the School does in encouraging and motivating students to find employment.
“Receiving this award will allow me to reduce my working hours and focus instead on my studies and on my new role as School Officer for the Division of Accounting and Finance.”
Fellow scholarship recipient Martin Coulter, 38, who graduated in June with a degree in Business Studies, plans to use the award to help finance an MBA postgraduate degree.
Martin said: “I feel extremely lucky and proud to have won this scholarship. Over the course of my studies, I had to work hard to fit in studies, part-time work and being a dad, so it felt wonderful to be recognised for my efforts.”
Professor Sharon Bolton, Head of the University of Stirling Management School, said: “There are a great number of parallels between sporting excellence and academic excellence. Many of the qualities required for outstanding sportsmanship – including commitment, hard work and perseverance – are the same attributes required for outstanding scholarly success.
“All four of the successful recipients of the Ryder Cup Scholarships at Stirling were selected because they demonstrated such attributes in great abundance. We are delighted with their achievement and wish them continued success in their studies and chosen careers.”
Richard Hills, European Ryder Cup Director, said: “We are delighted to be supporting some of the students at University of Stirling. The 2014 Ryder Cup will create lasting benefits across Scotland and the bursary scheme is an important element of our education legacy.
“We wish all of the new students well as they continue their studies and look forward to providing support through this scheme for years to come.”