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Winning Students 100 was launched at the University of Stirling.
Scottish student athletes will be able to continue to combine their college or university studies with training for sporting success thanks to funding from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and sportscotland.
Winning Students was established with SFC funding in 2008 and saw over 1,700 scholarships awarded during its first phase. Well known athletes who have benefited from the scheme include Olympic medallists Laura Muir, Duncan Scott, Vicky Wright and Seonaid McIntosh.
Now, the programme is set to continue until 2028 and is being relaunched as Winning Students 100. The newly-branded initiative will provide athletes with grants of up to £3,000 and offer them additional support such as academic flexibility. Also new under Winning Students 100 is a hardship fund offering 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 include current Olympic champion, Hailey Duff, Paralympic medallist, Lewis Stewart and under 23 European 10,000 metre record holder, Megan Keith – one of Scottish athletics’ leading prospects.
Commenting on the impact of Winning Students 100 on her sporting and academic endeavours, Megan, 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”
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.”
