Scholarship Awards Ceremony at UCL

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UCL Futures

On 9 December, UCL's newest scholarship recipients were presented with their award certificates at the annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony. The Jeremy Bentham Room at Gower Street was packed for the formal presentation ceremony and a lively drinks reception.

Professor Michael Worton, UCL's Vice-Provost (Academic & International) and Professor David Bogle, Head of UCL's Graduate School, presented the award certificates to the 2008 UCL Scholarship Awards winners on a day which, in the words of Professor Worton "is one of the most important days of UCL's calendar". The event was attended by the 145 winners and their guests; Ambassadors, High Commissioners or other senior diplomats from some of the forty-six countries represented by the scholars; and representatives of some of the funding organisations, including Abbey, the Karim Rida Said Foundation and the Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation. Heads of UCL academic departments, senior academic staff, and members of the scholarship selection panels and of the UCL Scholarship Board were also present, as were UCL's Development & Corporate Communications Office, UCL's Registry, staff from the Department of Educational Liaison and its International Office, the Department of Student Funding & Welfare and the Scholarships Office.

After welcoming the winners and guests, Professor Michael Worton made a speech which both praised and encouraged the recipients of the scholarships. He said that UCL is always seeking "ways forward to make the world a better place in many different ways", and that these scholars were the ones who were going to "create change in the world". He called the new scholars "the best of the best of the best", and said that they "should be enormously proud" of their achievement. Yet he also reminded them of the responsibility which comes with winning these scholarships: "You must take what you learn and discover, and you must do something with it - it's not just about you, it is about what you do. … You should bear that responsibility, as well as your justifable pride."

Professor Worton reflected on UCL's role as London's Global University and its unique status as an institution that has "more students from more countries than any other university". He argued that UCL's London location, at the heart of one of the most multicultural, complex and challenging cities in the world, makes it even more of a "space of possibility". He advised the students to make use of the opportunities open to them, and urged them to consider themselves global citizens, and to continuously see their studies "in the context of the world" - closing with a reference to the Zulu maxim 'ubuntu ngumuntu ngabantu' ('a person is a person through (other) persons').

A wide range of scholarships is available to UCL students, awarded primarily on the basis of excellence in academic achievement. One exception to this rule is the Abbey "1 UCL" Excellence/Endeavour Awards, given for students' outstanding achievement or endeavour in a non-academic field, and benefiting a charity of the student's choice. Scholarships at UCL are supported by many different sources, including UCL itself, the British government, the UK Research Councils, foreign governments, industry, trusts and foundations - and through the generosity of UCL's alumni and friends.

The event was organised by Amelie Handke from the UCL Scholarships Office.

To find out more about UCL scholarships and funding, please use the links at the top of the article.

Related Story: UCL Alumni Scholarships: applications open, 8 December

Images:
Top: Professor Michael Worton with the Abbey "1 UCL" Excellence/Endeavour Awards Winners
Above left: Professor Michael Worton with the International Outreach Scholars
Right: Professor David Bogle, Head of UCL's Graduate School, with the UCL Graduate Research Scholars.