active member of his school community, running a computer science club and volunteering as a ... came after finding hers
Sutton Trust US Programme Participants Attending US Universities in 2017-18
Marcia Adams – Bryn Mawr College Sunderland, North East England (St Anthony's Girls' Catholic Academy) Marcia lives between the two busy households of her parents and their families. She is the first in her school to apply to US institutions; her desire to study abroad was born many years ago, with a dream to go to art school in New York City, but the Sutton Trust US Programme has opened her eyes to a brilliantly broad liberal arts education that would suit her and her ever-changing interests perfectly. She adores languages, in particular Spanish, shown through her voluntary tutoring of GCSE Spanish students, taking responsability of a MFL department-ran refreshments stand at school events, and attending a language cafe at a local cinema where she watches new Spanish films and discusses them afterwards in their native tongue. In her spare time, Marcia enjoys being creative, writing poetry and songs. The prospect of studying in the US and being given endless opportunities for research or indepth study in fields she would never have the chance to otherwise is something very exciting for her and her supportive family. Babatomiwa Adebiyi – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Hammersmith, Greater London (Twyford Church of England High School) Babatomiwa Adebiyi has lived in West London all his life and is the first in his school to be a member of the Sutton Trust US Programme. Babatomiwa is an active member of his school community, running a computer science club and volunteering as a mentor to younger students with literacy or behavioural problems. He has many leadership roles within school, being Deputy Head Boy and House Captain and School Prefect as well as being a corporal in the Air Training Corp. One of the reasons he is attracted to the US is the opportunity to get a broad education and pursue a variety of interests. Babatomiwa’s true passion lies with mathematics and computer science but he has a profound interest for languages. He is interested in majoring in computer science but would like to minor in maths and French. Ella Apostoaie – Wellesley College Norwich, East of England (Notre Dame High School) Ella Yasmin Apostoaie is an aspirational polyglot and lover of the world. She enjoys exploring the dales of Yorkshire with her Mum and brother, and the mountains of Romania with her Dad, and is looking forward to exploring what the rest of the world has got in store for her. As the first female in her school applying to US universities, she wants to pave the way for girls in Years 7 to 12, and embrace her role as Head Girl to support and nurture their aspirations. Through involvement with school productions, having a voice and expressing herself have become very important to her. After winning the 'end of year debate', Ella is putting her debating abilities to good use by advocating a redesign of her school’s languages corridor at a meeting with school governors. Her interest in the US came after finding herself at a study abroad session in school. Ella is excited by the idea of adding to her language portfolio by building on her self-taught knowledge of Korean and Mandarin, and also immersing herself in the world of theatre.
Matthew Baldwin – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Nottingham, East Midlands (Wilsthorpe Community School) Matthew Baldwin, from Nottingham, will be the first in his family to enrol at university. He is passionate about environmental protection and has done research into the use of robotics to improve sustainability in his local area. He wants to use his knowledge from university to reduce the impact technology has on the environment by studying a range of subjects including physics and mathematics. Having worked for a British explorer, kayaked in Cornwall and founded the Geographical Society at his school, Matt certainly enjoys being adventurous. His desire to study in the US started when he wanted a new challenge, and to explore a culture different to his own. His future plans include kayaking around Norway, and building some new robots to use around his home. Julius John Balisanyuka-Smith – Swarthmore College Westdrayton, Greater London (Tiffin School) JJ is a percussionist and producer from West London who is currently working on his first music project. The first person in his family to apply to an American university, JJ hopes that studying in the US will enable him to achieve his dream of being an aerospace engineer. JJ has completed work experience at Imperial College London, attended summer schools at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge and, through the Engineering Education Scheme, he has worked with professional engineers to help design a part for an industrial gasifier in the North of England. As a junior referee, JJ has officiated FA Cup fixtures at Queens Park Rangers FC. One of the reasons he is attracted to the US is the ability to cocentrate on more than one subject as part of his degree - combining his interests in engineering, Classics and statistics. He is really looking forward to joining an Ultimate Frisbee team! Jack Beckitt-Marshall – Bowdoin College Lincoln, East Midlands (The Priory Academy LSST) Jack has lived all of his life in Lincoln and, alongisde his identical twin brother, will be the first in his family to attend university. His main passion is computing, and he has been coding since the age of thirteen. Jack recently took part in a Nuffield Research Placement at the University of Lincoln to develop a face detection system for Android devices, which will be expanded to include medical imaging capability. Jack also is greatly interested in history, politics, and philosophy, completing the Royal Institute of Philosophy's Jacobson Programme. Coming from difficult family circumstances, Jack loves being able to help people, and for this reason he founded the school's Interact Club, taking part in local, national, and international charity projects, as well as helping out with the school's masterclass programme for Year 6 students. Jack has always had an interest in studying abroad in general, but was attracted to the US by the fact he can mix his love for the sciences and the arts with the broad liberal-arts education, as well as the wonderful extracurricular and funding opportunities.
Leah Berridge – Northwestern University Surrey, South East England (Wallington High School for Girls) Leah is a student at Wallington High School for Girls, in Sutton, South London. She studies physics, mathematics, and media studies, hoping to pursue a future career in film and/or broadcast engineering. Leah will be a first generation university student and, as in her nature, she doesn't do things in half measures: she wants to move to the other side of the world to achieve her dreams. Education is important to her; she tutors GCSE mathematics to younger students and her peers. In Leah's free time you'll find her playing football, bouldering in her local climbing centre or trying to complete her viewing of the IMDb's top 250 film list. Rachael Borthwick – Skidmore College Kingussie, Scotland (Kingussie High School) Keen sport fanatic Rachael is the first person in her school to apply to US institutions and will be the first in her family to go to university. Known as Merida from the film Brave to her friends, Rachael engages in traditional Scottish activities such as shinty. As well as earning the prestigious title of Head Girl, she is also a young sports coach and a My World of Work Ambassador. Rachael is an active member of her school's football, hockey and shinty teams. The opportunities US universities provide for her would allow Rachael to continue both her academic and non-academic interests. This has attracted her to an undergraduate degree in the States. Rachael wants to study exercise science in the US, but is looking forward to the flexibility of the liberal arts system, allowing her to continue with psychology. Kieran Brookes – Amherst College Doncaster, Yorkshire and the Humber (Hall Cross Academy) Kieran Brookes of Doncaster, England is a keen mathematician with passions in most all sciences whether natural or social. With a love for all of his A-level subjects, Kieran enjoys consolidating his knowledge by aiding others in understanding the courses they take. Kieran also enjoys working at his local McDonalds and Volunteering at his old primary school as a teaching assistant. Kieran will be the first in his family to leave their home town of Doncaster for University as his mother and father only recently pursued a higher education qualification. The US is the right fit for Kieran as it offers a broad education, satisfying his desires to learn more in all of his loved subject areas which other universities simply wouldn't offer. The States Culture also appeals to Kieran as there is an emphasis on clubs and activities at University rather than just academics which is something Kieran would be interested in as he enjoys trying new things and being active.
Jasleen Chaggar – Columbia University Ickenham, Greater London (Vyners School) Jasleen Chaggar is a young woman who plans on going places. As a second generation immigrant, her international outlook has spurred her to look across the pond to find an alternative to the highly specialised degrees found in the UK. Jasleen's involvement in her school and local community - serving as Head Girl, Chair of the School Council and a member of the local Youth Council - has enabled her to hone her leadership and management skills. She pioneered the publication of the school’s first yearbook, and led the Sixth Form Leadership team to create a guide that encouraged equal access to opportunities by highlighting upcoming enrichment events. Jasleen is a keen netball player, helping coach younger girls and captain her school team in her spare time. She also represented her school and local community at a Youth Council meeting with her local MP, and this summer she completed a week of work experience at the House of Commons. The US seems like the perfect place for her to continue her love for history, whilst being able to explore English, philosophy and politics. Dominic Clarke – Williams College Teignmouth, South West England (Torquay Boys' Grammar School) Dominic will be the first person in his family to attend university. He was appointed Senior Prefect for Academics by his head of house and as such, he runs a club for younger students where they are paired with mentors (like himself) and receive help in the subjects with which they struggle. Not content with tutoring students only from his own school, Dominic also leads a maths club in another local school for under-performing students. Dominic is very outdoorsy and is an enthusiastic orienteering athlete who has represented his school, his county and England in national and international orienteering competitions. He volunteers at his local museum, because he recognises the importance of a community being able to remember its past, and he is also an ambassador for the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz project. One of the reasons he is attracted to studying in the US is the ability to study liberal arts, because it would enable him to explore his interests in history, economics and politics, while still giving him the opportunity to study other subjects and discover new interests. Thomas Clarke – Pomona College Gorleston, East of England (East Norfolk Sixth Form College) Tom Clarke, from the small seaside town of Great Yarmouth, lives with his mother and younger brother. He is the first from his college to apply to the US, and the first from his family to attend university. Tom's proudest achievement is being the founder of STEM Support, a club run daily at his college where he tutors AS-Level STEM students. Tom is interested in studying maths, chemistry and foreign languages, an opportunity only provided by the US liberal arts education system. Being able to study multiple disciplines before declaring a major is essential to his higher education. His passion for guitar led him to playing with a band at local venues as well as tutoring GCSE students. The emphasis on athletics at US institutions suits Tom well as he runs daily and competes in a weekly timed event.
Joshua Coleman – Connecticut College Lurgan, Northern Ireland (Lismore Comprehensive School) Joshua has lived in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, for his entire life, and will be the first in his family to attend university. He currently studies at Lismore Comprehensive School where he acts as Head Boy and has assisted with the organisation of the school formal, being a member of the school’s formal committee. In addition, Joshua is the founder of his school’s Geography club where he runs revision classes and makes revision. Joshua is extremely proud of his Irish heritage and being a fluent Irish speaker, earning his gold Fáinne (medal of fluency) at a summer Gaeltacht course, Joshua loves nothing more than to share his love for the language with whoever he meets. Joshua has also self-studied the language at both GCSE and AS level. In his spare time he can be found playing golf at his local club, where he also works part-time as an academy supervisor, reading comic books, and playing Pokemon Go. Joshua also volunteers as leader at his parish’s Sunday school and at the Lurgan Gateway Club which aims to give the parents of disabled children some respite. Joshua is excited by the flexible US system as he hopes to combine his love for Geography with history and he aims to make use of the variety of courses on offer in order to broaden his university experience. Morgan Cronin – Yale University Pontypridd, Wales (Hawthorn High School) Morgan Cronin is an ambitious and enthusiastic student from the small town of Pontypridd in South Wales. She will be both the first in her family to attend university and the first in her school to apply to US institutions. Morgan has a passion for community service and dedicates her weekends to working with local charities. Morgan is also active within her school community: she tutors both SEN English and GCSE Maths, and founded the Eco Club. Morgan was drawn to the US for their liberal arts education and is eager to pursue undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities. Morgan hopes to major in either maths or physics, but is also excited to study a range of classes outside these disciplines. She is looking forward to experiencing the diversity of American culture, as well as getting involved in as many activities on campus as possible. Megan Deacon – Lafayette College Sarratt, South East England (St Clement Danes School) Megan Deacon hails from the village pastures of Hertfordshire, England and will be the first in her family to attend university. Megan is proud of her community work within her school. Her most impactful work was when she independently organised and ran a charity book sale event in her school, raising money for a local charity. This was because of her passion to make education accessible to all, so she wanted to ensure students in her school didn't have to pay lots of money for school books. Megan also extended her charitable and enthusiastic nature when she volunteered at an orphanage for HIV/AIDS children as part of her expedition to Vietnam and Cambodia in 2015. Megan is excited about the liberal arts opportunities in the US as she is eager to experiment more with her academic passions before she decides on specific routes to go down. Her love for theatre, demonstrated through her involvement in four school productions and an amateur dramatic theatre group, will follow her to university as she plans to get stuck in with the drama scene on campus.
Chardonnae Deslandes – Harvard College London (Kingsmead School) Char plays an active role in her local community as the Vice-Chairperson of the Enfield Youth Parliament, a reading buddy and fundraiser for FGM awareness. These commitments were recognised alongside her academic achievements when she won the national Jack Petchey Achievement Award. Chardonnae aspires to a career in politics and shall be well versed having worked as a campaign intern for Hilary Clinton in the build up to the 2016 election. Her ultimate goal is to advance from being a student ambassador to representing a cause or institution globally. Her interest in the US extends beyond politics to undergraduate study and the unique liberal arts education. She will be the first in her family to attend to university and the first in her school to pursue higher education in America. Upon completing her degree, she intends on continuing education up until a doctorate. Natasha Di Centa – Dickinson College Reading, South East England (Kendrick School) Natasha Di Centa is an ambitious and driven student who was born in Paris, and now resides in Reading, Berkshire. As an active member of her local community, shown through her commitment of volunteering at Cub Scouts and local charity shops, mentoring younger students and her work towards helping to set up a “Speakers Corner” in her hometown, she relishes the opportunity to help others around her. Natasha is also a keen performer and has achieved a distinction at Grade 8 LAMDA. She also loves to sing and has recently performed at the the Royal Albert Hall. Coming from an extremely close knit family, Natasha is thrilled to be the first to have the opportunity to study in the US. The liberal arts curriculum and the ability to study a number of different subjects - from Anthropology to Urban and Regional Studies - is the main draw for Natasha, as well as the opportunity to travel and experience a new culture. Sophie Doddimeade – Grinnell College Purley, Greater London (Coloma Convent Girls' School) Born and raised in Croydon, Sophie is an academically interested girl with big dreams to one day make a difference. With interests ranging from chemistry, to art, to politics, she really feels the US Liberal Arts system is for her, despite the fact she would be the first in her family to attend university, let alone apply to the US. She really impacts the wider community through her voluntary work such as leading both a Guides and a Scouts group, distributing food and necessities to the homeless, volunteering in a local charity shop, collecting money for the RSPCA and more. In addition to this, she founded a company last year and has since donated all her profits to charity, as well as being a key role in the school community by taking on the role of House Captain, Year 7 Prefect and founding a Reading club. Her hobbies are wide ranging and one in particular that she's had a love for since the age of 2 is Ballet, in which she's currently working towards her Grade 8 and Advanced Foundation. Because of this love for dance, she's taken part in over 8 productions which have been performed at various venues in London, as well as even performing at the Minack Theatre in Cornwall! In her free time, she also participates in Maths club, Chemistry club, Choir, attends Life Drawing classes and Debate Club.
Francesca Drumm – Georgetown University (1789 Scholar) Belfast, Northern Ireland (Victoria College) Francesca is a native of Belfast where she held the position of Head Girl at Victoria College, an all-girls school. She will be the first in her family to attend university. In addition to her academic pursuits, much of Francesca’s free time is spent campaigning as an elected member of the UK Youth Parliament, encouraging a dialogue between policy makers and young people. From conducting research and presenting findings to government committees, to founding her own social justice campaign and educational programme #whatsfordinner, Francesca continually demonstrates her dedication to social action. Selected as a 2017 Young Global Changemaker, Francesca’s commitment to youth advocacy has been compounded by her curiosity in national and international politics, feeding her passion by attending lectures and workshops including those at the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation at her local university. She also enjoys singing in two choirs and acting as cox for an amateurs women's rowing crew. Overall, as a keen linguist who is excited to study political science and international relations, she believes that the global educational experience in the US is perfect for her. In Francesca’s opinion, being exposed to communities beyond the boundaries of her country is particularly important, not only for her own personal growth but for her future contribution to society.
Larissa Edwards – Northwestern University Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands (City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College) Larissa was raised by her single mother in Stoke-on-Trent. She will be the first in her family to attend university and the first in her school to apply to US institutions. Larissa has always enjoyed being a leader: she was captain of the netball team for 4 years, and she now coaches an under-16s netball team. Keen to have an impact on her local community, Larissa became one of the first social media mentors in her area. She provides local charities with advice on how to improve their online presence to raise awareness of their cause. Through her role as Head Girl, Larissa organised a large fundraising project in response to the Ebola crisis and she will be embarking on a volunteering trip to South Africa. Larissa has always been interested in pursuing a career as a solicitor, however she wanted the opportunity to explore more subjects before starting her career, which is why she believes university in the US is perfect for her. She hopes to major in political science with a minor in economics and looks forward to experiencing the strong sense of community US universities provide. Jonathan Edwards – Pomona College Dagenham, South East England (Davenant Foundation School) Jon-Joe was born in Bradford, Yorkshire but has lived in six different homes ranging all the way from Newcastle, where he grew up, to Dagenham, where he now lives. He will be the first in his family to apply to US universities. Jon-Joe's love for Maths led him to take A-level Maths and Further Maths, and he wants to study pure maths at university, but he is looking forward to the opportunity to also continue study of history and philosophy in the US thanks to the nature of the US liberal arts education system. Jon-Joe is committed to his religion and helps out a lot at his local church as well as founding the Christian Union at his school. He also loves swimming and has been part of a competitive swimming club since he was six years old and has participated in many galas and meets over the years.
Conal Fagan – University of Notre Dame (Hesburg-Yusko Scholar) Derry, Northern Ireland (St Columb's College) Conal has captained the Northern Ireland football team at the Schoolboy International level. He is also a very pro-active Head Boy and spends a lot of his time looking after his father, who is affected by Alzheimer's disease. The opportunity to study in the US and gain a top class education will give Conal the platform to pursue a career working with NGOs, in order to bring about a positive change in reducing the wealth gap, and working in LEDCs around the world. Coming from a city and country where political divide has dominated its history, Conal has always been one to embrace the challenges which he has faced, showing people that anything is possible. He is excited for this new American adventure which awaits him. Charlotte Foley – Vanderbilt University Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands (King Edward VI Handsworth School) Charlotte is an ambitious student hailing from the outskirts of Birmingham. An only child of mixed Irish and Jamaican descent, she is the first in her family to apply to university. Charlotte dedicates her time to a wide range of activities, from sport to academia. Recently, her cheerleading team became both National Grand Champions and International Champions. By spending time volunteering in a local primary school, she connected with younger children and her experience sparked an interest in education as a profession. Charlotte’s foremost interests are in biology, having achieved a silver medal in the National British Biology Olympiad; she aspires to eventually earn a PhD in the subject. However, studying a wide range of subjects is something that has long appealed to her, which is something that study in the US facilitates with its liberal arts curriculum. Georgina Gonzalez – Columbia University London (The Grey Coat Hospital) Georgina is a native Londoner with an English/Irish mother and Cuban father. Active in her school community and a committed social justice advocate, she is a Prefect responsible for recruiting and hosting guest speakers. Georgina also founded a diversity club, aimed at exploring questions of identity and promoting intercultural awareness and tolerance. Georgina is proud to have served as an ethnic minority teenage panellist at the Women of the World Festival. Georgina hopes to intertwine her passion for STEM with her love of public engagement to eventually go into the field of science communication. Selection into the Sutton Trust Fulbright US Programme has confirmed that her long held dream of studying in the US is the right decision. She looks forward to having the freedom and flexibility to pursue a liberal arts education with opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration at a world class institution. She hopes to major in biochemistry or neuroscience, and is interested in minoring in race and/or gender studies.
Tori Gorton – Princeton University Newton Abbot, South West England (Torquay Boys' Grammar School) Victoria is in the first generation pf her family to go to university. Victoria studies the International Baccalaureate, which encompasses a broad curriculum of six subjects - which is one of the reasons that she wants to study in the US, so that she can continue with her diversified interests ranging from physics, chemistry, and maths, to philosophy, and English. Victoria is an active member in her school as President of the Student Council and co-founder of the Girls Council in school that is all male until sixth form. She also is Director for The Youth Project for the South West and treasurer for an LGBT campaign. For leisure, Victoria plays squash, has taken up sailing lessons, and runs the sound department for the technical crew at her school's performances. Victoria first explored American universities at Fulbright's USA College Day, and is looking forward to a diverse campus and college experience with the chance to form close connections with her professors and pursue research opportunities in emerging technologies. Emanuele Guidi – University of Chicago London (The St Thomas the Apostle College) Emanuele lives with his father, mother and twin brother. He helps care for his mother, who suffers from a chronic illness, and also aids his brother with his academic work. He will be the first in his family to attend university, and the first from his school to apply to the US. Some of the achievements he is most proud of include the fact that he is studying six A-Levels, runs a small dog walking business, was leader of the winning team for the South London Science and Technology team, and took his team to the finals in Cambridge. He has also attained a Gold in the UK Maths Challenge - scoring high enough to be invited to follow up rounds. He feels that the US is right for him because it provides a broader academic and extracurricular platform for him to further explore himself, and it also allows him to experience new things and live life to the fullest. Momena Haider – University of Pennsylvania Milton Keynes, South East England (Ousedale School) Momena Haider is in the first generation of her family to attend university and lives in Buckinghamshire, but is originally from Pakistan, having moved to the UK at a young age. Most central to Momena’s identity is her background with which she expresses her deep engagement through her various service activities; as a youth representative for a local ethnic organisation, Momena has taken the role of being a voice for young Pakistanis in her community and takes action on the strong messages she advocates. Momena maximises her contributions at school and is a member of the Student Council and the founder of the Model United Nations club. Momena is excited to take an unconventional higher education route and is partly attracted to the US higher education system because of her suitability for the holistic admissions process; she imagines that her successes outside of the classroom will be appreciated in this system.
Oscar Hou – Columbia University Liverpool, North West England (The Blue Coat School) Oscar Hou is from Liverpool. An accomplished artist, his work has been featured in an internationally published art magazine, a Canadian art magazine, and even on TV! He has also exhibited his work many times in his city and continues to hone his calling. His artistry continues with music — a keen musician, he has released an EP, has had lead roles in his school’s musical productions, and he achieved Grade 8 piano at age 15. Deeply involved with his communities, he cofounded Steam Ahead!, a charity which promotes the intersection of STEM and Art (STEAM) within local primary schools. And as Senior Prefect, he uses his position as Head of Development and Careers to ensure students have opportunities outside the traditional STEM pathway. Always up for a good debate, he’s a Debate Prefect: he chairs and competes in intramural competitions, runs two debate societies, and has organised his school’s first inter-school debate in recent years. Although clearly passionate for art, Oscar has never been willing to sacrifice academics, and for several years now has always wanted to study both physics and art in the US. Being a part of the Sutton Trust programme means everything to him! Adam Inskip – University of Rochester Wingerworth, East Midlands (Tupton Hall School) A keen, all-rounder student, Adam Inskip has lived in the Peak District since the age of two. He has always been a highly motivated learner, often pursuing interests outside of his school work, whether it’s by self-teaching an extra maths module, following a wide range of online courses or successfully applying for two university outreach programmes. He was simultaneously the Managing Director and IT Director for his Young Enterprise company, and has also showed exceptional talent for leadership in his role as a Young Leader for his local Scout group. Scouting has been a large part of his life, and events like international camps have given him the chance to show off his sense of adventure and risk-taking as he took part in a range of new activities like abseiling and rock climbing. The first from his school to apply for study in the US and the second generation in his family to apply for university, The Sutton Trust has opened his eyes to the wealth of opportunities presented by US study. Adam is excited at the prospect of being able to study mechanical engineering at the same time as pursuing all of his other interests as part of the liberal arts approach to education. Nasir Ismael – Princeton University Tower Hamlets, Greater London (Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate Girls School) If you can translate his Cockney twang, you will see that Nasir Ismael is a proud East Ender whose major strength is that he lives in the most poverty-ridden borough in England, something that has spurred this first generation university student on throughout his life to succeed. He has a strong interest in community service and spends a large part of his time volunteering and fundraising for the worst off in his local community whilst also tutoring at community centres or in school. In his free time, he captains his local football team and enjoys reading Spanish literature, a subject he would like to study at university. However, he is unsure about what career he would like to pursue, which is part of the reason why the US attracts him so much; he has the freedom of an open and liberal arts curriculum where he will be encouraged to experiment in different fields in order to find out what career path suits him best.
Alice Jackson – Amherst College Durham, North East England (St Leonard's Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Comprehensive School) Alice Jackson hails from Durham in the North East and is a nonconformist. She attends St Leonard’s School where she is the first to apply to US universities. The oldest of four equally zany children, she loves to write poetry, make music and record audiobooks. As Deputy Head of her school community, she is dedicated to encouraging positive mental health and a collaborative attitude, tutoring Year 7 and 8 students with special educational needs. She is an active member of her sixth form newspaper, penning her ‘Politics is a Feminist Issue’ column to raise awareness of women’s and human rights issues. An aspiring human rights advocate, Alice was part of a national school team in the European Youth Parliament where she was recently chosen to individually represent the UK in international debate. Her eyes were opened to the possibility of US higher education when she read about the programme aged 13, and has been excited to apply ever since! Alice is eagerly anticipating a liberal arts education in which she can explore her loves of Russian, international relations and political philosophy. Holly Jones-Bartlett – Smith College Taunton, South West England (Richard Huish College) After becoming the first member of her rugby club to play for Somerset's U18s Women rugby at the age of 15, Holly's passion for rugby developed. She has since helped found the first women's rugby teams at two of her colleges, was selected as captain and won player of the year for two years. Holly actively engages in her community, as the youngest volunteer of the children's charity C.L.O.W.N.S, where she organises and manages play opportunities for children throughout the summer holidays. She also volunteers as an under 7s rugby coach, where she sees her role as integral to encouraging girls to play rugby. Initially, Holly struggled to find a degree available in the UK that catered to her love of ancient civilisations, biochemistry and neuroscience, but found the opposite was true of the US liberal arts education. She hopes to explore the expansive range of cultures, courses, and extracurricular activities available in the US. Ben Keegan – Duke University (Robertson Scholar) Liverpool, North West England (The Blue Coat School) Ben is an intellectually curious and driven student from Liverpool who will be in the first generation of his family to go to university. He is a prominent leader within his school community, being the Chair of an active School Council, a Senior Prefect, House Deputy, and the head of both Maths and Engineering Societies. The importance of education is something that is close to his heart, and so he set up a Community Initiative project called STEAM Ahead, which aims to inspire primary school children in disadvantaged areas to believe in themselves by showing them how the benefits of engaging in education can transform their lives. He developed an interest in music when he was 13, and has since became an avid musician, being a Grade 6 standard pianist, and a self taught guitarist. Ben is looking forward to the liberal arts curriculum, where he is excited to study maths and physics, as well as rekindling his interest in the social sciences and Spanish.
Ethan Kendall – Vanderbilt University Bristol, South West England (St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School) Ethan Kendall has lived in Bristol all his life. He was first attracted to studying in the US because of his passion for basketball; Ethan has always loved sport and plays football, cricket, basketball in addition to swimming on a regular basis. He has captained both the football and cricket team and is now a trained lifeguard at his local leisure centre. Aside from his sporting interests, Ethan is also very politically motivated. In the lead up to the 2015 general election he volunteered with his local Labour party, canvassing local areas and making phone calls on behalf of his MP who later won the local seat. At school, Ethan is keen on playing an active part in the social aspects. He was Head Boy at his secondary school and was a senior student at his sixth form, helping to organise charity fundraising and the end of year prom. The US means a lot more to Ethan now than just the home of basketball; it is now the country that he believes best suits his academic interests and will help him grow as a person. Jessie Kendrick – Smith College Telford, West Midlands (Thomas Telford School) Jessie Kendrick is an aspiring theoretical physicist from Thomas Telford School, Shropshire. She is studying further maths, physics and English literature at ALevel, after gaining an A* in A-Level maths after only one year of study. Jessie is a true academic and has recently decided to self-teach AS-Level Chemistry as she has always had a love for the subject but was unable to take it at ALevel. As well as this, Jessie undertook a research placement in applied maths at Aston University during the summer and wrote a full fifteen page scientific report on how fractional derivatives can be used to transform equations of motion. Outside of her intellectual pursuits, Jessie plays the keyboard at Grade 8 standard, is a self-taught pianist, and has worked part-time in McDonald’s for the past year. The US offers so many opportunities to study a wide range of subjects and Jessie cannot wait to take full advantage of this. Martha Kent – Mount Holyoke College Tunbridge Wells, South East England (Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School) Never sat still, Martha Kent has excelled in performing, dance and sport over the years. Notably she has played soccer for Gillingham and Brighton Centres of Excellence and for Crystal Palace Ladies, and has performed in annual charity ballet shows since the age of four. A compassionate and open person, her friends and large family are important to her and supporting those around her as a daughter, sister, aunty, or friend is an integral part of her life as well as engaging in volunteer work in the community and at school. Having first heard about studying in the US while playing for Brighton, when her coach recommended looking into sport scholarships, she explored the prospect further, attending a Fulbright seminar last year. After coming to learn more about the process, she applied to the Sutton Trust who have transformed her initially daunting ambition to cross the pond into a motivating and achievable one. Particularly with her ambitions to explore acting, directing, choreographing, writing, several languages and studying abroad, the vast possibilities of a liberal arts education provide the potential for her to thrive. Furthermore, the countless opportunities to get involved on campus greatly attract Martha, especially the manytheatre troupes, sports teams and social activism groups.
Paulo Kretteis – Princeton University Lambeth, Greater London (Greenford High School) Paulo (Pow-low) Kretteis (like lettuce) is Brazilian-born but has lived in England for 12 years. He enjoys all types of sports but basketball is his passion, playing for the London Pulse National U18 Team. He will be the first in his family to go to university and making his family proud is an important thing for him. Paulo comes from a family indigenous to Brazil - his grandmother lived off the land for many years before her children showed her there was more to civilization. The biggest part of Paulo's week is studying, not because he has to but because he enjoys the subject he is studying and is eager to learn more about them. FUN FACT: Paulo can juggle; he learnt how to do this as part of various circus acts that were taught in his primary school. Sophie Mackenzie – University of Rochester (Genesee Scholar) Bodmin, South West England (Bodmin College) Sophie Mackenzie is an England Cricketer from the very south of England, Cornwall. She is an active member of the school community, involved in a peer mentoring scheme that aims to provide support for younger students, a paired reading programme that helps improve students with their reading skills, and lead and participated in sports throughout the school years. Sophie has completed the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. She will be the first generation of her family to attend university. With a huge interest in science, studying biology, chemistry, physics and maths but no direction as to career path, Sophie believes that studying in the US will allow flexibility in subjects to experiment with her other interests or discover new ones. Bonnie MacRae – Barnard College Dundee, Scotland (Harris Academy) Bonnie MacRae is a creative and passionate student, hailing from Dundee in Scotland. A school prefect and the only pupil in her school to take an extra qualification, she will also be the first in her family to attend university. Devoting much of her time to running, Bonnie has been a member of her city’s athletics club for five years and petitioned to lower the prices of using her local track. A family illness has meant Bonnie is committed to fundraising for the Meningitis Research Foundation; she will be one of the youngest people to compete in the 2017 London Marathon. Bonnie is also an enthusiastic writer and founded her own website. She publishes articles onfashion sustainability and hopes to go into the field of fashion journalism following university. In her spare time, Bonnie also teaches herself sign language and would love to get involved in this in the US. Studying in the States has always been an aspiration of Bonnie’s however, before coming across the Sutton Trust US Programme, she never believed it to be a valid prospect. The opportunity to double major is something that drew her to the US, as well as the plentiful internship opportunities in her chosen field.
Ayush Malik – University of Richmond Wolverhampton, West Midlands (Wednesfield High School) Ayush Malik will be the first person in his family to apply to university. He had spent 12 years of his life in India before immigrating to the UK with his family in 2011. Ayush is a proactive member of his school community, being chosen as the first ever Student Head of School Council while also being a Sixth Form Senior Ambassador. Ayush has always been interested in STEM subjects, also becoming the first STEM Ambassador for his school, the co-founder of a STEM club, and judging regional Jaguar Land Rover Racing finals and mentoring primary school children. He has a passion for hiking and fundraising and he combines the two by organising 100-mile bike journeys or 20-mile hikes, fundraising for a variety of causes. He’s a captain of a cricket team and has won the best bowler award for three years in a row. Ayush hopes to introduce his fellow Americans to cricket while also getting involved in other American sports such as lacrosse. He became interested in US education because of the vast opportunity of internships and extracurricular activites. He hopes to double major in accounting & finance and biochemistry – making full use of the flexible American liberal arts philosophy. Cai Markham – Princeton University Leek, West Midlands (Leek High Specialist Technology School) Cai Markham lives in the Staffordshire Moorlands, and is very excited to begin the next stage of his life at university. He will be the first person from his school to apply to US universities. Cai is involved with his school community, founding and chairing the school's humanities society, and tutoring GCSE and A-Level Maths to fellow pupils. Outside of school, he plays tennis for his local club's first team and writes articles on politics and religion. He is very passionate about learning, which is why he is very excited to pursue a broad curriculum in the US. He had been interested in studying in the USA before learning of the Sutton Trust US programme, but assumed studying there would be impossible for financial reasons. He plans to major in either politics, philosophy or economics. Carla Melaco – Barnard College Whitley Bay, North East England (Monkseaton High School) An enthusiastic yet easy-going individual, Carla Melaco lives with her two younger brothers in the seaside town of Whitley Bay. As a dancer in one of nine Centres for Advanced Training in the UK, Carla dedicates a large amount of her time to dance and the performing arts. Last year, she was thrilled to appear in ITV’s detective series Vera, playing a character role acting alongside Brenda Blethyn. She was also fortunate enough to be chosen for a European dance tour. In the past year she has enjoyed becoming a language tutor for two native Czech speakers, helping to improve their spoken and written English. With a variety of academic interests ranging from languages to mathematics, Carla loves the flexibility offered by the US higher education system. She also hopes to continue with performing arts alongside her academic pursuits, thanks to the strong extracurricular scene at US Universities. She feels indebted to the Sutton Trust for this wonderful opportunity, as well as her school, family and friends for their ongoing support.
Alexander Morgan – Connecticut College Coventry, West Midlands (Cardinal Newman Catholic School) Alex will be the first in his family to go to university. As an identical twin in search of a more independent lifestyle, Alex is excited about US study because of the autonomy a liberal arts education gives you, and being away from home. Alex spends most of his time reading the news or increasing people’s awareness of current events through political volunteering, and his role as Deputy Head Boy at his sixth form. He was offered an internship with an MP the week Theresa May became prime minister, and has also interned elsewhere, including a number of respected global firms. Alex achieved the most prestigious award at his school in Year 11, for great academic achievement despite adversity. Alex wants to study political science at university perhaps with economics - a combination which is difficult for him in the UK without A-Level Maths. Fionnuala Murphy – Dartmouth College Harrogate, North East England (St Aidans and St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form) Fionnuala is the first in her school to apply for university in the US. She is proud of her dual Irish and British heritage, which has fostered a curiosity of other cultures and a love of languages. A keen believer in strengthening international ties, Fionnuala was selected as a Youth Ambassador to represent her town to its twin in France. Fionnuala was also elected as the chair of a charity run in school, named Zawadi, which fundraises for Craft Aid International, helping provide genuine employment for those with disabilities in Tanzania and Peru, the profits from the craftwork being used to make centres self-sufficient. Her dedication to music has seen Fionnuala achieve Grade 8 saxophone and Grade 7 piano, complemented by playing with numerous music ensembles over the years. Additionally, she was chosen by teachers and governors at her school as a recipient of the Sybil Mansell Award for Outstanding Overall Academic Achievement at GCSE. Fionnuala has been interested in studying in the US for many years due to the opportunity for combining the study of languages with her other main passions: history and politics. With the added emphasis on extra-curricular activities, the US is her perfect fit. Joe Nicholls – Soka University Southend-On-Sea, East of England (Southend High School for Girls) Joe Nicholls is the first member of his family to apply to university and the first in his school to apply for US institutions. He is an actively engaged individual in his community, starting an LGBTQ+ youth support network in his town as well as being a youth representitive for a local transgender support group. He has also gained funding to start his school's first LGBT library. He was chosen to represent his cause at the Stonewall Youth Diversity programme, a selective national programme for engaged individuals. Joe is also dedicated to his charity work and in his role as House Captain at his school, has raised over £2000 for local disability charities. Joe became interested in the programme after an email from the Fulbright team and is drawn to the freedom and opportunities that a liberal arts education presents. His aspirations are to study sociology, however he is attracted to the idea of either double majoring or minoring in subjects such as women/gender studies, urban studies and environmental studies.
Olivier Niyibizi – Emory University (Woodruff Scholar) Nottingham, East Midlands (Bilborough College) Olivier Niyibizi, a curious and confident individual, comes from the city of Nottingham in the East Midlands and is one of the first in his family to go to university. He keenly seeks out opportunities to test his leadership abilities: he was given the role of Head Boy in school, and successfully became the Student President of his college. In his free time, he enjoys playing for his college basketball team and volunteering in his local charity shop. He has a passion for technology, and runs the Concept Society - a forum for discussing topics in science and technology – at his college. He first began thinking about studying in the US after his older brother took part in the Sutton Trust US Programme. Consequently, he has relied on the support and advice of his brother and the rest of his family since the start of the programme. He is looking forward to the breadth of study and extracurricular opportunities available in the US, and hopes to major in computer science. Daniel Ogunbamowo – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Morehead-Cain Scholar) Chelmsford, East of England (The Sixth Form College Colchester) Daniel Ogunbamowo lives in Chelmsford, Essex with his mother and two sisters. Born in London, Daniel's family has Nigerian origins. He is an active member of both his school and local community, volunteering as a mentor at Interact, a local charity for young people with learning disabilities and on his college’s committee for welcoming Syrian refugees to Essex. Daniel’s academic interests range from economics to history and geology, and he hopes to continue all his passions under the flexible liberal arts system in the USA. His love for travel and exploration led him to an international university fair two years ago where he discovered the Sutton Trust US Programme and where his interest in US education began. Tom Orchard – Georgia Institute of Technology (Stamps President's Scholar) Lyme Regis, South West England (Colyton Grammar School) Tom Orchard is a forward-thinker. Tenacious and determined, his love for space has kept him motivated through to ‘stellar’ success in his studies. He has no doubts the future of man is among the stars. Founder and Head of Aphelion Rocketry, a school rocket-science group, he is gaining valuable practical experience in both technical ingenuity and leadership. He cares equally about sharing his passion for science through his outreach work, including constructing a keyboard using only some paint and clever electronics, which he hopes will inspire others to consider STEM. He is fortunate to have won a place as an Arkwright scholar, and has used his funding from Cobham Plc to fuel his imagination. Living in historic Lyme Regis, he has engaged with the local traditions by assisting fossil finding walks along the beach run by the town museum. Tom is sure that studying in the USA will broaden his horizons and allow him to access countless opportunities to fulfill his true potential.
Joseph Peck – Yale University Plymouth, South West England (Devonport High School for Boys) Joe Peck is an outgoing, determined young man who lives with his mum in Plymouth, Devon. His main interest is in politics and he is the chair of the Plymouth Young Labour group. In this role, he has given speeches to crowds of over one hundred people, sharing a platform with various MPs, MEPs and national journalists. As a house captain in his school, he has organised large charitable events which have raised large sums for local, national and international charities. Furthermore, he frequently attends the debating society and is organising setting up a model UN, the first of its kind in the South West. He has been a Scout for twelve years and was selected to represent the UK at the World Scout Jamboree in 2015, which helped fuel his interest in international relations. In his free time he is a campanologist, plays keyboard in a local indie-rock band, and loves music and old films. He would love to double major in politics and economics. Rhiannon Richards – Skidmore College Tregaron, Wales (Ysgol Penglais) Rhiannon lives in the hills of West Wales, but is originally from Australia. She has moved between these two homes her whole life, but would now like to make a home for herself in a middle ground: the USA. She will be the first person to attend a university in her whole family, and the first to ever study abroad in her school. She works long hours outside of school to support her family, and whenever she's home she helps on the family farm. Rhiannon is proud of her work with Amnesty International within her school, and also her musical contributions across her county in Wales. She enjoys tutoring other pupils in orchestra and inspiring them through music. The Sutton Trust has opened a world of opportunities for her, while giving her the courage to pursue her own dreams and aspirations. Grace Richardson – Northwestern University (Brian D'Arcy James Scholar) Hove, South East England (Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College) Grace Richardson is a native of Brighton who combines her love of technology, creativity, and collaboration to make things happen in her community. She is currently the President of the Student Union at her Sixth form college, BHASVIC. As well as the normal student support duties, she is using her role to introduce a more effective system of communication between staff and students by designing and building a communications app. Grace is the Stage Manager for Windmill Young Actors where she regularly supports the fifty strong group of 9-16 year olds as they put on plays in local professional theatres. As well as supporting performance she also performs herself. Having danced competitively since she was five, Grace won a Gold Medal at the 2016 Dance World Cup and loves being part of a dance company. To counter the lack of female representation in the computer science industry, Grace has set up a coding society at her college that creates a safe space for beginner programmers. Her interest in the US began after attending a summer school in 2013, where she met an alumni of the programme who introduced her to Fulbright and US study. The US university system excites her because of their strong focus on extracurriculars, and ability to take more than one major, allowing her to dance, make films and code all at the same time!
Alda Saba – Lehigh University London (Seven Kings High School) Alda Saba studies maths, further maths, chemistry and physics. She will be the first to attend university in her family. She plays a part in her local Albanian community and gets involved with her youth club regularly. She took it upon herself to form a small group within her youth club who would be willing to porpose a social enterprise to a panel of judges at the city hall; they successfully won funding to run various community-based projects for a year. One of these was aimed at integrating Albanian refugees into the community by bringing everyone together to cook a meal. She would like to pursue a career around engineering but is deeply interested in studying geography, Spanish and even international relations (she heavily participated in the Model United Nations) at university level. Ayllin Schoengut Hecker – Lafayette College New Cross, Greater London (Bacon’s College) A Bolivian-born Londoner, Ayllin comes from a working-class family who sought better prospects as they moved to the UK when she was 11. With an inherent desire to excel despite the challenges, Ayllin was the recipient of an award for achieving the highest GCSE results in her year group - including a top grade in Portuguese which she self-taught. An engaged member of her community, she served as a Head Cadet of the Volunteer Police Cadets, Deputy Head Girl at her sixth form, and a science tutor. Her determination to study in the US began when at the age of 15, she obtained a work experience placement at a leading UK law firm, and learnt about study abroad opportunities. She is eagerly looking forward to joining a women’s lacrosse team on campus and learning to code - interests that were sparked after being introduced to these at the Engineering Sutton Trust Summer School at the University of Cambridge. A first-generation student to attend university and the first in her school to consider US institutions, Ayllin has a vision to do chemical engineering whilst diving into her various passions, which include chemistry, fine art and history – a possibility only available in the US. Samuel Sheppard – Swarthmore College Enfield, Greater London (Highams Park School) Samuel Sheppard comes from the London borough of Enfield. He balances his A-Levels with his commitment to the Air Cadets, his part-time job, and his physics research with the ORBYTS project. All the while he is still able to be a contributing member of his school's student leadership team as a post-18 advisor and a STEM ambassador. He will be the first in his family to attend university. In recent years, Sam has developed an ever growing interest in physics and would like to study it at university in order to move on to research as a career. Sam comes from a large English family scattered all over north London. His interest in the US started three years ago, when he saw how often scientific breakthroughs were being made at US institutions. He is attracted to the US for his studies due to the academic freedom and emphasis on extra curricular activities. He is specifically interested in the ways physics and philosophy intertwine with one another.
Ashley Sibanda – University of Rochester (Alan and Jane Handler Scholar) Reading, South East England (Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School) Ashley Sibanda is an enthusiastic young mathematician who thrives to be a mad scientist or an engaging lecturer. Eager to explore, she completed a four-week Nuffield Research placement where she analysed several data sets with statistical analysis in order to see the maths behind academic test developments. Ashley is also one of the 50 Reading Maths Scholars selected by the University of Reading out of over 200 national applicants. This has enabled her to carry out more independent research and present findings to an audience and a professor specialising in that field. This passion for Maths has to some extent stemmed from being born and raised in Zimbabwe where Maths and Sciences have a much greater significance than arts and crafts. Having moved to the UK three years ago and experienced a bit of a culture shock, Ashley has gained intellectual curiosity and co-founded a fundraising club that donates to charities and a school in Uganda. Undergraduate education in the US gives Ashley the chance to burst her bubble of equations and formulas and hopefully unveil suppressed interests in literature and East Asian studies (Ashley is a fan of Korean dramas). Raphaelle Soffe – Harvard College Ewloe, Wales (Hawarden High School) Raphaelle Soffe is a dual British-French national, who enjoys languages ranging from Welsh to Mandarin and Russian. Her parents have never attended university and she is the very first student from her Welsh school to apply to American universities. Raphaelle is the Founder and Director for Neutral News, an independent and non-profit news service that is the first of its kind. She is also an active public speaker and debater, having represented North Wales in the National English Public Speaking Finals. She enjoys filling up her summers with work experience placements at Airbus, MoneySuperMarket headquarters, the Old Bailey and Clifford Chance in Canary Wharf. Raphaelle is an active member in the community, tutoring a Year 7 student maths and an elderly neighbour computer skills. She is currently training for a half marathon for the road safety charity Brake, a cause close to her heart. Raphaelle’s interest in the US stems from her working for her father answering calls from American customers, gradually branching into her wider reading (Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville) and her eventual application to the Sutton Trust US Programme The main reason for her application to the US is that the system there is a far more flexible match for Raphaelle’s style of learning and it will allow her to strive to her full potential.
Matthew Stafford – Yale University Kendal, North West England (Kirkbie Kendal School) Matthew is a student from Kendal, Cumbria, on the outskirts of the Lake District. Living in an area of such natural beauty has prompted a keen interest in the environment, which has developed into career aspirations of renewable energy engineering. His achievements within school include captaining the winning team of BAE Systems' 'Top of the Form' competition, working as Managing Director of his school's Young Enterprise company, and being chosen as Head Boy by students and teachers. Outside the classroom, Matthew enjoys volunteering as a Young Leader at the Cub Scouts group he attended as a boy, and has ridden horses for seven years. He is also engaged in politics and current affairs, and is working with like-minded peers to establish a Young Labour group in his constituency. Matthew's main interest in US undergraduate study is the curricular flexibility; the vast range of course and programme combinations available as standard in a liberal arts education would allow him to combine passions for engineering, politics, and the environment in a way that would set him up well to make a positive difference in the world. Rebecca Tinkler – Emory University (Woodruff Scholar) Newton Abbot, South West England (Torquay Girls Grammar School) Rebecca Tinkler is a country girl from Devon. She was brought up on a small farm on the edge of Dartmoor, along with her two elder brothers. She was the only girl from her primary school to pass the 11+ which meant going to a grammar school twenty miles away, but she retained close links with her local community and was an active member of Scouts as well as helping out with Beavers. One of the skills she learned at Scouts was advanced First Aiding which has come in very useful as she has already helped a lady who collapsed on the London Underground with an epileptic fit. She has been keen to attend University in America ever since she visited a Georgia and Florida as an eight year old; her interest has only increased as she attended a Fulbright Fair in 2014 and has found out more through The Sutton Trust. She would like a career in international business so would like to major in economics, and feels that studying in America, and probably mixing with international students, will make her an attractive applicant for future employers. Neil Tramsen – Emory University Doncaster, Yorkshire and the Humber (Hall Cross Academy) Neil is a driven young man from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Having grown up in Germany, he takes great pride in his German roots. Neil greatly enjoys being involved with his school community, which resulted in him being voted for deputy head boy. The Air Cadet Organisation is what has made Neil into the person he is today, with his rank of corporal developing his leadership and teaching skills. Air Cadets has also allowed him to make an impact in his community, as he regularly volunteers for a number of RAF related charities, and takes part in parades at local events. His main academic passions are maths and physics, and he endeavours to further his knowledge both inside and outside of school, with his position of subject ambassador for maths, and the summer schools he has attended through the Linacre Institute. The US is the perfect place for Neil to further his education, as it allows him to pursue his love of mathematics and physics, while maintaining his interest in languages and biology.
Shane Ward – Bates College Westerham, South East England (Charles Darwin School) Shane Ward lives in the small Kentish town of Westerham, and will be the first in his family to attend university, as well as the first in his school to apply to US institutions. Shane's main interests are in the social sciences and humanities, especially international relations and geography, which he hopes to study under the flexible liberal arts curriculum and with the opportunity to dual major. It is these interests that have seen him work tirelessly with his local Green Party over the past three years, campaigning and coordinating an effort in a town that had no other members before he began, as well as establishing his school's first Model UN. Shane became his school's first winner and consequently London's Young Reporter of the Year, writing articles inspired by his little- known hometown. His main passion is global politics and, given his love of adventure and eagerness to explore the world, studying abroad was always on the agenda. Ryan Wheatley – Middlebury College Abingdon, South East England (John Mason School) Ryan will be the first in his family to attend university. Having grown up in a small and rather rural community, Ryan is very excited by the opportunity to be exposed to a breadth of culture, diversity and academia that an undergraduate degree in the US has to offer. Ryan holds a black belt in taekwondo and has been training in the discipline for over 7 years. When he is not training himself, Ryan volunteers at the children's taekwondo classes and hopes to one day run a class of his own. He also volunteers in GCSE Biology classes, during which time he hopes to pass on his own enthusiasm for the subject to students lower down the school. Ryan’s enthusiasm for science translates into his academic choices, and was awarded a silver medal in this year's Biology Olympiad; it is a subject he certainly intends on taking as an undergraduate, alongside chemistry and mathematics, hoping to one day progress into the field of biomedical research. Nicola Yates – Skidmore College Aldershot, South East England (Alton College) Nicola Yates lives with her mum in Aldershot, Hampshire and is in the first generation of her family to apply to university. She is an active member of her sixth form community through her involvement as a student mentor, providing advice and guidance to a younger tutor group, and has co-founded a philosophy society to pass her love for the subject on to first-year students. Nicola also contributes to the wider community by volunteering at a Girlguiding group and the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. A keen thespian, Nicola has been involved in various theatrical endeavors and recently received a grant from her sixth form which allows her to take classes at the Guildford School of Acting. Alongside this, Nicola pursues her interest in long-distance running and will soon be taking part in the Great South Run to raise money for Mind, the mental health charity. Having grown up in a multicultural military town, Nicola looks forward to experiencing even more diversity at university, and she is drawn to the US because a liberal arts education would allow her to explore philosophy, theatre and other areas of curiosity.
