62 bright British state school students from low and moderate income backgrounds have won places at prestigious US universities via the Sutton Trust US Programme, run in conjunction with the US-UK Fulbright Commission.
The students’ achievements were announced at a reception for them and their parents in the London offices of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, the founding corporate supporter of the US programme.
Of the successful students, two-thirds (68%) will be among the first in their family to go to university and more than half (56%) are from households with an income of less than £25,000. Half (50%) have been eligible for free school meals or educational maintenance allowance.
Across the four years of study, the students will receive over $16.4m of financial support – an average of $264,500 per student – from US universities and scholarships graduating with little or no debt. They’ll take up places at 37 top universities across 17 US states including: Columbia, Dartmouth College, Duke, Harvard, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Princeton and Yale.
18-year-old Francesca Drumm, who will be the first person in her family to go to university, has won the prestigious 1789 scholarship to study at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington DC. She lives in Belfast with her mum and is an elected member of the UK Youth Parliament.
She said: “The Sutton Trust US Programme has offered me unparalleled opportunities and support in my application to US universities. By pursuing and achieving my dream to study in the US, I will be availing of a unique global approach to education, both inside and outside of the classroom.”
18-year-old Matthew Baldwin, from Nottingham, will be the first in his family to go to university when he takes up his place at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is passionate about environmental protection and has so far researched the use of robotics to improve sustainability in his local area.
He said: “The programme has been an incredible experience and has offered me the vital support that helped me on my journey to the US. I chose to study in the US for the challenge of living in a new and exciting environment; MIT offers such amazing opportunities for undergraduates, I’m excited to see where they will take me!”
The aim of the US Programme is to encourage academically talented, low and moderate income students to consider studying at American universities. Last summer, all 62 students participated in the Sutton Trust’s US Summer School based at either the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) or Yale University, with a college fair at Harvard University.
The students benefited from residential activities and received an intensive programme of support, delivered by the US-UK Fulbright Commission over 12 months before and after their US visit, which covered admission tests, college choices and the application process.
150 state school students have been selected to take part in the Sutton Trust’s US Summer School this August.
We are very grateful for the financial support we receive for the US programme. Support is provided in part by a grant from the Robertson Foundation. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the programme’s founding corporate partner and their investment is matched by Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin, who have supported the programme since its launch. The programme is also generously supported by Martin & Antoinette Sullivan, Jerry del Missier, an anonymous Foundation, another anonymous corporate, and the Neuberger Berman Foundation. EducationUSA also provide financial support. We are grateful to the London Stock Exchange Foundation and Big Change who have previously funded the programme.
Speaking at the event at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation, said:
“The achievements of these students are truly remarkable. They have won places at the great American universities such as Harvard, MIT, Princeton and Yale. They will benefit from the broad curriculum these universities offer as well as the experience gained from living in the US.
“They all come from backgrounds where family income is less than $65,000. This means that all their costs are paid for by the universities. Each student will on average access $260,000 in financial aid which means they will graduate with little or no debt.”
Penny Egan CBE, Executive Director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission, added:
“We are delighted to continue partnering with the Sutton Trust to widen access to educational opportunities between the US and the UK. Fulbright has always stood for developing leadership through intercultural education and these exceptional students will return to the UK as graduates equipped to collaborate across borders. We are enormously proud of them and look forward to celebrating their achievements in the years to come.”
Alex Wilmot-Sitwell, President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, also addressed the students and said:
“It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to gain a place on the Sutton Trust US programme, so I congratulate these students on their success. Our partnership with the Sutton Trust is one we value highly, and our employees take great pride and enjoyment in supporting the students through mentoring and informal buddy schemes. We look forward to our continued partnership and to helping the students succeed in their academic lives.”
Applications for next year’s programme will open in November. Students can register their interest now. (http://us.suttontrust.com)
The US Programme is based on the Sutton Trust’s successful flagship programme in the UK which now runs at 12 leading British universities and has benefited over ten thousand state school students.
For further information please contact Hilary Cornwell at the Sutton Trust on 020 7802 1660 or David Mannion at the US-UK Fulbright Commission on 0207 498 4019.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Name | University | School |
Marcia Adams | Bryn Mawr College | St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy |
Babatomiwa Adebiyi | MIT | Twyford Church of England High School |
Ella Apostoaie | Wellesley College | Notre Dame High School |
Matthew Baldwin | MIT | Wilsthorpe Community School |
Julius John Balisanyuka-Smith | Swarthmore College | Tiffin School |
Jack Beckitt-Marshall | Bowdoin College | The Priory Academy LSST |
Leah Berridge | Northwestern University | Wallington High School for Girls |
Rachael Borthwick | Skidmore College | Kingussie High School |
Kieran Brookes | Amherst College | Hall Cross Academy |
Jasleen Chaggar | Columbia University | Vyners School |
Dominic Clarke | Williams College | Torquay Boys’ Grammar School |
Thomas Clarke | Pomona College | East Norfolk Sixth Form College |
Joshua Coleman | Connecticut College | Lismore Comprehensive School |
Morgan Cronin | Yale University | Hawthorn High School |
Megan Deacon | Lafayette College | St Clement Danes School |
Chardonnae Deslandes | Harvard | Kingsmead School |
Natasha Di Centa | Dickinson College | Kendrick School |
Sophie Doddimeade | Grinnell College | Coloma Convent Girls’ School |
Francesca Drumm | Georgetown University (1789 Scholar) | Victoria College |
Jonathan Edwards | Pomona College | Davenant Foundation School |
Larissa Edwards | Northwestern University | City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College |
Conal Fagan | University of Notre Dame
(Hesburg-Yusko Scholar) |
St Columb’s College |
Charlotte Foley | Vanderbilt University | King Edward VI Handsworth School |
Georgina Gonzalez | Columbia University | The Grey Coat Hospital |
Tori Gorton | Princeton University | Torquay Boys’ Grammar School |
Emanuele Guidi | University of Chicago | The St Thomas the Apostle College |
Momena Haider | University of Pennsylvania | Ousedale School |
Oscar Hou | Columbia University | The Blue Coat School |
Adam Inskip | University of Rochester | Tupton Hall School |
Nasir Ismael | Princeton University | Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate Girls School |
Alice Jackson | Amherst College | St Leonard’s Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Comprehensive School |
Holly Jones-Bartlett | Smith College | Richard Huish College |
Ben Keegan | Duke University (Robertson Scholar) | The Blue Coat School |
Ethan Kendall | Vanderbilt University | St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School |
Jessie Kendrick | Smith College | Thomas Telford School |
Martha Kent | Mount Holyoke College | Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School |
Paulo Kretteis | Princeton University | Greenford High School |
Sophie Mackenzie | University of Rochester
(Genesee Scholar) |
Bodmin College |
Bonnie MacRae | Barnard College | Harris Academy |
Ayush Malik | University of Richmond | Wednesfield High School |
Cai Markham | Princeton University | Leek High Specialist Technology School |
Carla Melaco | Barnard College | Monkseaton High School |
Alexander Morgan | Connecticut College | Cardinal Newman Catholic School |
Fionnuala Murphy | Dartmouth College | St Aidans and St John Fisher Associated Sixth Form |
Joe Nicholls | Soka University | Southend High School for Girls |
Olivier Niyibizi |
Emory University (Woodruff Scholar) |
Bilborough College |
Daniel Ogunbamowo | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Morehead-Cain Scholar) | The Sixth Form College Colchester |
Tom Orchard | Georgia Institute of Technology (Stamps President’s Scholar) | Colyton Grammar School |
Joseph Peck | Yale University | Devonport High School for Boys |
Rhiannon Richards | Skidmore College | Ysgol Penglais |
Grace Richardson | Northwestern University
(Brian D’Arcy James Scholar) |
Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College |
Alda Saba | Lehigh University | Seven Kings High School |
Ayllin Schoengut Hecker | University of Rochester | Bacon’s College |
Samuel Sheppard | Swarthmore College | Highams Park School |
Ashley Sibanda | University of Rochester
(Alan and Jane Handler Scholar) |
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School |
Raphaelle Soffe | Harvard College | Hawarden High School |
Matthew Stafford | Yale University | Kirkbie Kendal School |
Rebecca Tinkler | Emory University (Woodruff Scholar) | Torquay Girls Grammar School |
Neil Tramsen | Emory University | Hall Cross Academy |
Shane Ward | Bates College | Charles Darwin School |
Ryan Wheatley | Middlebury College | John Mason School |
Nicola Yates | Skidmore College | Alton College |
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