Fresh investment for Scotland’s national sports scholarship programme with launch of Winning Students 100

Following a new injection of funding from sportscotland and the Scottish Funding Council, Scotland’s national sports scholarship programme for talented student athletes has relaunched as Winning Students 100, with six hockey athletes being supported.

Helping student athletes balance their studies with high performance training and competition, the newly-branded Winning Students 100 provides athletes with grants of up to £3000 and works with respective colleges and universities to offer additional support such as academic flexibility.

With funding secured until 2028, it is expected 500 scholarships will be awarded over the period with the programme also introducing a hardship fund to offer additional support to eligible student athletes.

106 scholarships have been awarded for 2023/24 across 28 different sports and 21 universities and colleges. New scholars for the revamped programme including current Olympic champion, Hailey Duff (curling), Paralympic medallist, Lewis Stewart (cycling), Commonwealth gold medallist, Grace Reid (diving), Britain’s first ever Para Nordic World medallist, Scott Meenagh (biathlon) and U23 European 10,000m record holder, Megan Keith (athletics).

Keith, who won the U23 European Cross Country by a record margin before her record-breaking efforts at the Valencia 10K in January, is one of Scottish athletics’ leading prospects and a prime example of a world-class student athlete pursuing excellence in and out of the classroom.

Commenting on the impact of Winning Students 100 on her sporting and academic endeavours, the University of Edinburgh, Applied Sport Science student, said: “I really appreciate the generous support from Winning Students 100 for the upcoming year. In what is looking like an exciting year of competitions, the scholarship will help fund the travel required to train and compete to the best of my ability”

Established in 2008, the original Winning Students programme saw over 1,700 scholarships awarded during its first phase of funding with noteworthy alumni including Olympic medallists Laura Muir (athletics), Duncan Scott (swimming), Vicky Wright and Bruce Mouat (both curling).

As the newest funding partner, sportscotland’s involvement brings true cross-sector collaboration to the programme with Scotland’s sport and higher education bodies both committed to supporting a duel-career pathway for the country’s leading student athletes.

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “We are committed to helping young athletes achieve their goals. Being able to find the right balance between training, their studies and other commitments is critical to the wellbeing of student athletes. We’re delighted that this programme will help these athletes to do that.”

Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “Having funded the Winning Students programme from the start, we’re incredibly proud it has helped so many people to be successful college or university students alongside developing a career in sport. The achievements of previous Winning Students in life and in sport speak volumes for the benefits of the programme, and I wish the new scholars every success.”

Executive Director of Sport at the University of Stirling and Chair of the Winning Students 100 Advisory Board, Cathy Gallagher, commented: “The importance of this dual career programme for talented student athletes, cannot be understated.  The coming together of the Scottish Funding Council, sportscotland and the HE/FE sector forms a significant collaboration within which to create even more impact for the current and future cohort of students”.

Winning Students 100 is managed by University of Stirling, Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, and supported by an advisory board and management group made up of professionals from across the tertiary education and sport sectors.

www.winningstudents-scotland.ac.uk

List of Winning Students 100 supported athletes 2023/24:

 

Forename Surname Sport Institution Name
Adam Hall Alpine Skiing University of Dundee
Megan Keith Athletics University of Edinburgh
Alyson Bell Athletics University of Edinburgh
Sarah Calvert Athletics University of Edinburgh
Natasha Phillips Athletics University of Dundee
Rebecca Matheson Athletics Robert Gordon University
Adam Pringle Badminton University of Strathclyde
Jack Macgregor Badminton University of the West of Scotland
Rachel Sugden Badminton University of Strathclyde
Abbie Brooks Badminton The Open University in Scotland
Finlay Jack Badminton University of Glasgow
Lauren Middleton Badminton University of the Highlands and Islands
Scott Meenagh Biathlon University of Stirling
Tyler Mclelland Boccia Fife College
Vittoria Pezzaioli Canoeing University of Strathclyde
Isla Bethune Canoeing University of Edinburgh
Alexander Blair Haswell Curling University of Strathclyde
James Craik Curling University of Stirling
Robyn Munro Curling University of Strathclyde
Laura Watt Curling University of the Highlands and Islands
Holly Wilkie-Milne Curling University of Stirling
Fay Henderson Curling University of Glasgow
Amy Mitchell Curling University of Stirling
Hailey Duff Curling The Open University in Scotland
Lauren Bell Cycling Edinburgh Napier University
Eilidh Shaw Cycling University of Glasgow
Struan Shaw Cycling City of Glasgow College
Lewis Stewart Cycling University of Strathclyde
Cameron Reid Cycling University of Stirling
Grace Reid Diving University of Edinburgh
Danny Mabbott Diving University of Edinburgh
Angus Menmuir Diving University of Edinburgh
Clara Kerr Diving University of Edinburgh
Jaimie Cook Fencing Edinburgh College
Ellen Buckley Fencing University of Edinburgh
Isaac McKerr Fencing University of Edinburgh
Luke Digby Figure Skating The Open University in Scotland
Christie Shannon Figure Skating Glasgow School of Art
Olivia Burke Freestyle Skiing University of Aberdeen
Chris McCormick Freestyle Skiing The Open University in Scotland
Zoe Winthrop Freestyle Skiing University of Aberdeen
Ross Laird Golf University of Stirling
Ruby Watt Golf North East College Scotland
Alexander Farmer Golf University of Stirling
Lucy Jamieson Golf University of St Andrews
Crystelle Lake Gymnastics University of Stirling
Jessica Ross Hockey University of Strathclyde
Bronwyn Shields Hockey University of Stirling
Sophie Hinds Hockey University of Edinburgh
Keir Robb Hockey University of Edinburgh
Lunjika Nyirenda Hockey University of Edinburgh
Calum Douglas Hockey University of Edinburgh
Oliver Short Judo University of Edinburgh
Josie Steele Judo University of Stirling
Sunny Doig Judo Heriot-Watt University
James Gray Judo Heriot-Watt University
Jacob Callaghan Judo Heriot-Watt University
Kirsten Taylor Judo University of the Highlands and Islands
Kara Lees Lawn Bowls University of Stirling
Cerys Cairns Netball University of the Highlands and Islands
Rachel Conway Netball University of Glasgow
Cerys Finn Netball University of Strathclyde
Zara Flett Netball Orkney College UHI
Joshua Matthews Rowing University of Edinburgh
Laura McKenzie Rowing University of Glasgow
Hannah Supple Rowing University of Edinburgh
Maisie Aspinall Rowing University of Aberdeen
Alexander Patton Rowing University of Edinburgh
Grace Dawson Rowing University of Edinburgh
Isla MacCallum Rowing University of Edinburgh
Josephine Briggs Rowing University of Edinburgh
James Deardon Rowing University of Edinburgh
Freddy Foxwell Rowing University of Edinburgh
Oliver Holmes Rowing University of Edinburgh
Shona Campbell Rugby Sevens University of Edinburgh
Finlay Callaghan Rugby Sevens University of Strathclyde
Lucy Evans Shooting University of Edinburgh
Isobel Mactaggart Shooting University of Stirling
Andrew Goodall Sport Climbing Heriot-Watt University
Andrew Glen Squash Heriot-Watt University
Katie Shanahan Swimming University of Stirling
Faye Rogers Swimming University of Aberdeen
Toni Shaw Swimming University of Aberdeen
Samuel Downie Swimming Edinburgh College
Keanna MacInnes Swimming Forth Valley College
Holly McGill Swimming University of Stirling
Archie Goodburn Swimming University of Edinburgh
Evan Jones Swimming University of Stirling
Evie Davis Swimming University of Stirling
Thomas Carswell Swimming University of Edinburgh
Lucy Grieve Swimming University of Stirling
George Smith Swimming University of Stirling
Abby Kane Swimming University of Stirling
Jack Milne Swimming North East College Scotland
Ciara Schlosshan Swimming University of Edinburgh
Rory Dickson Swimming University of Stirling
Jamie Ferguson Swimming University of Aberdeen
Andrew Bertoli Swimming University of Stirling
Michaella Glenister Swimming University of Stirling
Zach Speakman Swimming University of Stirling
Erin Shaw Taekwondo (WT) University of Glasgow
Isla Hedley Triathlon University of Edinburgh
Struan Bennet Triathlon University of Stirling
Amelia Peters Water Polo University of St Andrews
Finlay Erskine Wheelchair Basketball West Lothian College
Josh Manson Wheelchair Basketball University of Aberdeen
 

List of Winning student awardees Continuing from 2022-23
Lorna McClymont Golf University of Stirling
Gavin Roberts Swimming Glasgow Clyde
Ollie Carter Swimming University of Stirling
Kara Hanlon Swimming University of Edinburgh
Niamh Hunter Orienteering University of Edinburgh
Julie MacPherson Badminton The Open University in Scotland
Eilidh Campbell Orienteering University of Edinburgh
Laura Milne Canoeing University of Strathclyde
Charlie Guest Snowboarding University of Aberdeen
Sophia Green Triathlon University of Stirling
Lisa Aitken Squash Heriot Watt University

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