Page 68 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2023

RVC Scholarships – A legacy of achievement

Nadja Hale, Head of Fundraising

he RVC is able to offer a
number of scholarships to high-
performing students who might
Totherwise struggle financially
with higher education. The majority of
these scholarships were created by
people who left the RVC donations in
their wills – people whose animals were
treated here, were educated here or
just wanted to give someone else an
opportunity that had not been available
to them.
The legacy these generous members
of the community leave is a cohort of
scientists and veterinary professionals
who are advancing science and
saving lives daily when, without their Molly Ann Charnley, RVC Rufus other expenses that were associated
scholarships, they may not have been of Ruskinmere Science Scholar with studying. But since getting the
able to attain their qualifications. We are (Biological Sciences), said: “The scholarship, I’ve moved out of home and
so grateful to those who help to fund scholarship made coming to the RVC onto campus. I’m also now not obligated
scholarships to ensure that we are able possible. The idea that a stranger helped to work at all, really, because most of the
to support the brightest people and me achieve my goal of graduating from costs are covered by the scholarship.
those with great promise in their dreams university is a strange concept, and as So this is a huge relief for me, but it’s
of becoming part of the veterinary and clichéd as it sounds, it demonstrates the also put me in a position where I can
scientific community. kindness that exists in this world! I hope look at other placements that I wouldn’t

Rachel Cumberland, International that I can return have considered
BVetMed Scholar, said: “Flat out, this this kindness in “To anyone thinking of before, not even
scholarship has been life-changing. the future and do placements that
There’s no other way to say it. There something similar for leaving a gift in their are close to home
is such an unfortunate socioeconomic another stranger, as will to potentially fund a – placements that
barrier to higher education, and it can sometimes we all just are elsewhere in
make professions such as veterinary need a little help!” scholarship – just know the UK. And this
medicine exclusionary and seemingly Raheem will definitely help
unattainable for so many different people. the difference it can me in the future,
Coombs, RVC because I get to
“I had experienced a lot of financial Linkou Scholar make is immeasurable.” shadow staff who
hardships. I experienced homelessness (BVetMed), said: are in fields that
for the first time and had to make “Prior to being I wouldn’t have considered before, and I
some difficult decisions in order to just awarded the scholarship, I was living can see how that would be beneficial to
find a place to live. So after getting at home and working as many shifts as me when picking a career path in
this scholarship, that not only made it I could get because it would help me the future.”
possible for me to come to veterinary to subsidise travelling costs and all the
school in general, but it’s also going to
have a ripple effect throughout the rest
of my life. Now I’ll have the opportunity
to be a little bit more flexible and have
a little bit more freedom with the career
path that I want to choose – and not
have the constraint of having to pay back
student loans.
“It’s incredible to think about the
differences from where I was a year ago,
kind of living out of my car, to where I am
now. And a large part of that has been Amber Holly
from the scholarship.”

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