Sutton Trust US Programme

Sutton Trust US
Programme
Participants Admitted Early to US
Universities/Scholarship Finalists
Valavan Ananthakumaraswamy – Stanford University and the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill (Morehead-Cain Scholarship Finalist)
Enfield, Greater London (Queen Elizabeth's School)
Valavan Ananthakumaraswamy is from Edmonton, London, UK. His family is
originally from Sri Lanka, but were displaced by the civil war. Valavan sees his
community service as the most important part of him. He is Chief Operating
Officer of The Youth Project (TYP) – an organisation he helped found in
February 2014 and now runs in eight countries. He runs the Schools Project
with TYP which runs in two universities and thirty schools across the world. He
plays the Mridangam, a South Indian instrument, where he has Grade 8
Distinction and holds the professional title “Miruthanga Kalajothy”. He is also a
black-belt martial arts practitioner. The opportunity to study in America is
invaluable for Valavan because he is very keen on studying under a liberal arts curriculum and the
opportunities in terms of extra-curricular, study abroad, community service and internship provisions are
ideal for him. He is interested in studying Economics, Philosophy and Physics – a combination which he
can only do in the US.
Katrina Arman – University of Pennsylvania
West Malling, South East England (Invicta Grammar School)
Katrina Arman hails from the small town of Kings Hill in rural Kent, and will be
the first in her family to attend university. Her diverse background, with parents
from Russia and Ukraine, means she is able to fluently speak three languages
and has a passion for international study. She is the captain of her all-star
cheerleading team which, in one season, has managed to become National,
European and International Grand Champions. She has a great entrepreneurial
spirit and runs several online businesses, as well as being finance and
accounts manager of her nationally recognised Young Chamber business
network, which aims to give youth a voice in the world of business. She wants
to major in Economics and has been inspired to go into investment banking after undertaking a unique
work experience programme with Morgan Stanley and HSBC. She first became interested in the US
when meeting a girl in Milan who was on a study abroad programme, whilst majoring in fashion at Ohio
University, and was inspired by her story. Katrina is particularly excited about the liberal arts system as
she wants to try out and learn many disciplines and be part of a varsity sports team.
Walid Bajjani – NYU Abu Dhabi
London (Burlington Danes Academy)
Walid Bajjani is an aspiring computer scientist with a strong interest in the
economy. Born and raised in London, he will be the first in his family to attend
university. Throughout his childhood and teen years he has participated in a
variety of sports and extra-curricular clubs including volunteering internationally
on an exclusive project in South Africa funded by the Royal Air Force. He has
competed nationally in taekwondo for the past eight years and is now a corporal
in the Air Training Corps. He is an active member of the schools’ student body;
being Head Boy has allowed him to give back to his school community through
delegation of the school council and giving public speeches to parents on open
days. Walid comes from a close-knit Moroccan/Lebanese family with a strong faith in Islam at the core of
his identity. One of the reasons he is attracted to the US is the ability to combine his love for Economics
without compromising a degree in Computer Science. However, he also appreciates the opportunity to
explore a wide range of subjects such as Philosophy and Geography before deciding on a particular
major.
James Bedford – Harvard College
Torquay, South West England (Torquay Boys' Grammar School)
James Bedford is a 17-year-old IB and Nuffield Health Research Scholar who
lives on a sailing boat in Devon. He is the fourth from his school to successfully
be part of the Sutton Trust US Programme, following three Harvard students,
and will be the first in his family to go to university. James is a prominent
member of school government, the first student to join the parent government
and the only tutor in his school. He is an active rock-climber, swimmer, sailor,
computer programmer, swimming coach and guitarist. He became interested in
the US after attending Fulbright’s USA College Day and talking to the previous
Sutton Trust students from his school. With his broad range of interests prominently Biomedical Science and Economics - James feels the US will facilitate his wish to continue
pursuing his interests and help him avoid the more niche specialisation found in the UK.
Alisha Blades – Hamilton College
Craigavon, Northern Ireland (Lismore Comprehensive School)
Alisha Blades hails from Craigavon, Northern Ireland, and currently attends
Lismore Comprehensive School, where she acts as Head Girl and has been
chairperson of the student council for two years, achieving everything from
more affordable lunches to leading the Free Year 13 campaign. Her heart
belongs to science, studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Physics in the
hopes of one day becoming a medicinal chemist, a career path introduced to
her by her placement at The Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology,
Queen's University, Belfast. She serves on her local district youth council, which
not only aims to represent the youth of Craigavon, but also to bring together
Catholic and Protestant youths in the area through inclusive recruitment. In her spare time, Alisha can be
found teaching herself the guitar, piano and cello, or foraging for vinyls in one of Belfast's many record
shops. Alisha is the first in her school to apply to university in the US and feels the US will be a great fit
for her as she wishes to study not only her one true love, Chemistry, but to also dabble in the arts.
Ibrahim Butt – Duke University (Robertson Scholarship Recipient)
Blackburn, North West England (Cardinal Newman College)
Ibrahim Butt is an ambitious young man from Blackburn, Lancashire. He is a
from a large working class family of ten and will be in the first generation of his
family to attend university. In addition to numerous academic pursuits, his extracurricular activities extend to founding a community organisation called 2020
Vision. Ibrahim is a firm believer in the strength and capabilities of young
people and, through his organisation, hopes to engage young people in social
action projects throughout Lancashire. He also sits on the board of directors of
a regional youth development initiative and has had the opportunity to
represent the UK on intercultural exchanges in Bosnia, Germany and Tunisia.
He has established a new Human and Political Social Science Society at his college and introduced the
Model United Nations to students. Ibrahim would like to pursue a US liberal arts degree, respected
globally for its strengths in a broad range of disciplines. The Sutton Trust US Programme has intensified
his passion to experience education in a new cultural setting. A diligent and dedicated learner, Ibrahim
believes in the power of a global education.
Georgia Carr – Swarthmore College
Oakham, East Midlands (Rutland County College)
Georgia Carr lives in a tiny town called Oakham in the smallest county in the
UK and will be both the first in her family to attend university and the first from
her school to study abroad. An active member of her community, she founded a
mental health awareness charity to help young people in the area, and further
campaigned for better youth mental health services in a national pilot scheme.
Living in a rural area, opportunities are sparse, so she helps to write and edit
exposés from international human rights activists through a help-from-home
volunteer website. Georgia has been interested in studying in the US for many
years, mainly because of the liberal arts curriculum which provides a wellrounded education whilst maintaining a focus on a particular area. She is also looking forward to
developing her love for Politics and exploring completely new academic areas.
Alejandro Carruthers-Hierro – Lafayette College
London (Chancellor's School)
Alex Carruthers-Hierro is from Barnet in North London, but is also highly proud
of his Spanish heritage and bilingual abilities. He will be the first person in his
family to attend a university, and the first in his school to apply to an American
college. Alex has undertaken many extra-curricular activities, many of which
have allowed him to become heavily involved in the immediate local
community. These include completing Bronze, Silver, and Gold Duke of
Edinburgh Awards and the Jack Petchey Award. Alex was also Head Chorister
at the St. John the Baptist Church, Barnet all-male choir, singing in cathedrals
all over the UK. To add to his musical abilities, he also plays the bass in a small
group and would love to continue wherever he ends up. Alex is a highly sporty person and uses his
athletic hobbies as a form of letting off some steam after a hard day’s work; football, rugby, tennis and
basketball to name a few, not to mention his love for the Chicago Bears American football team. One of
the reasons Alex is attracted to the US is because of the liberal arts system and the fact he can study
many subjects in which he has an interest in addition to than the one he will major in.
Kirstie Clarke – University of Chicago
London (The Bridge Academy)
Kirstie Clarke has lived in Hackney, London all her life and is the first in her
family to attend university, as well as the first in her school to apply to US
institutions. Kirstie is very involved with her school; she enjoys working with the
younger students and is a mentor in both maths and reading, and was the
founder of a student-run blog for her sixth form. Her true passion lies with
Mathematics and she intends to major in this at university, but she also has a
profound interest in both the sciences and the arts, especially Chemistry and
English Literature. The ability to pursue all of her academic interests and
experience the unique US culture and lifestyle forms the core of Kirstie’s
interest in undergraduate study in the US.
Jodie Coburn – Yale University
Rotherham, Yorkshire and the Humber (Brinsworth Comprehensive School)
Jodie Coburn hails from Sheffield, South Yorkshire and is the first in her family
to apply for university. Jodie is passionate about engaging younger children in
education, particularly the sciences. She leads an after school "Serious About
Science" club where she manages chemical reactions and interactive activities
for third year students, as well as giving help on homework. Jodie is also the
leader of her sixth form debate team and has debated about issues such as
privacy vs national security and female genital mutilation. Not only is she an
active part of her school community, she regularly volunteers in her local charity
shop, where she has worked for three years. What most excites Jodie about
university in the US is the interdisciplinary nature of it - a keen lover of science, she does not want to
focus on one area, but branch out and receive a broad but thorough education. Jodie is the first in her
school to apply to American universities, but has very supportive family and friends who are just as
excited as her about the prospect.
Alex Cox – Princeton University
Bournemouth, Dorset (Bournemouth School)
Alex Cox lives with his mother in the seaside town of Bournemouth. While his
main academic interests are in Maths and Engineering, he is a very keen
musician, having played in a number of classical and jazz bands in venues
across the south on both the piano and clarinet – at which he is Grade 8
standard. Combined with this is a love for creative writing and debating, and last
year he won the JR Smith Writing prize at his school – the first Year 11 ever to
do so. These varied passions drove Alex to apply to the US, where he will be
able to study these interests alongside the major of his choice. What inspires
him to keep up this large number of extra-curricular activities is a love of
learning and education in general – he volunteers at a local primary school teaching Maths and is a
sergeant in his school’s Cadet Force, where he instructs younger children. For Alex, there is no better
place to combine a broad academic programme and public service than the US. He was introduced to
the Sutton Trust US Programme through his school, which last year sent a student to America.
Phoebe Cribb – Bryn Mawr College
Chorley, North West England (Cardinal Newman College)
Phoebe Cribb is a Lancashire-born determined individual who is the first in her
family to apply to US institutions. As an active member of the wider community,
Phoebe is passionate about raising awareness of autism and climate change,
which has resulted in her running two 10ks and two half marathons – raising
over £4,700 in the process. Her compassion for others is demonstrated through
her commitment to being a youth volunteer for the Archdiocese of Liverpool
Lourdes Pilgrimage, a student mentor, a volunteer at an arts club for disabled
children, a young carer for her autistic sister and a student ambassador for
CAFOD. One of the reasons she is attracted to the US is the ability to
‘customize’ her degree through a liberal arts education whilst being immersed in a completely new
culture. She is excited at the prospect of studying Psychology, International Relations and Art, and
experiencing an education that caters to all of her academic and extra-curricular passions.
Jack Dunn – Dartmouth College
Stranraer, Scotland (Stranraer Academy)
Jack Dunn was born in England, but has resided in Stranraer, south-west
Scotland, since the age of five. He is a triplet, with two sisters, and will be the
first in his family to attend university and the first from his school to apply for US
undergraduate study. Jack is an enthusiastic and avid percussionist with his
local brass band, and has even played with the Royal Scottish National
Orchestra. He loves to work with kids, through helping his local junior wind
band and running his school's science club, where he shares his interest and
passion for science. At university, Jack wishes to study the sciences and
Maths, with other interests in Music and Politics. Jack does a lot of work in his
community through youth volunteering ambassador work and his local food train charity. Although Jack's
interest in US study only started with the Sutton Trust US programme, the ability to study outside of a
chosen major or to double major, the vast opportunities and support offered by American universities has
captured his interest and has given him the feeling that the US is the right fit for him.
Sarah Edwards – Middlebury College
Cleckheaton, Yorkshire and the Humber (Greenhead College)
Sarah Edwards is from a village in West Yorkshire. In her spare time, she
pursues her creative passion for photography and film making, and has recently
been making promotional videos for the Bradford Community Environment
Project. Sarah is also a dedicated member of the Amnesty International Youth
Group at her sixth form college, in which she campaigned for Afghan women’s
rights, and she has taken part in musical theatre and tennis for most of her life.
At her high school, Sarah was Head Girl, captain of the netball and rounders’
teams, and an enthusiastic lance corporal in the Combined Cadet Force, which
involved lots of adrenaline filled activities, plus the role of teaching younger
cadets her skills. She is very excited about the prospect of studying in the US as she has many different
interests, including Geography, Literature, Art and French, and the liberal arts curriculum will give her the
freedom to explore all of these.
Alice Findlay – Harvard College
Northampton, East Midlands (Northampton School for Girls)
Alice Findlay comes from Northampton, is one of seven children, and is the first
in her family and school to apply to universities in the US. Alice thoroughly
enjoys helping younger people and believes strongly in giving something back;
she is therefore proud to be an active member of her school community, taking
on roles as a vice president, head of school council, biology subject officer,
maths leader, and as a tutor and peer mentor. Alice relishes the opportunity to
undertake roles of leadership and has initiated a tutoring system and founded a
student-run science homework club within her school. Additionally, Alice is a
member of five music groups both inside and out of school, and in particular
has a love for singing, being a member of three different choirs and an a cappella ensemble. Alice
enjoys spending her holidays helping her local community by volunteering at a care home and a
homeless shelter, and by working as a young leader at youth activity camps. One thing that attracted
Alice to studying in the US is the freedom to choose your own classes, and the possibility to double
major, allowing her to combine her interests in Biology and Music.
Samuel Fox – Dartmouth College
Cowdenbeath, Scotland (Beath High School)
Samuel Fox is an ambitious and driven student from a small town in Scotland
called Cowdenbeath and will be the first in his family to attend university. At
school, Sam has achieved the title of Head Boy and is dedicated to improving
the percentage of school leavers with positive destinations as he believes that
education is the gateway to a better quality of life. Sam sees his position of
leadership at school as an opportunity to be a positive role model to the
younger students who doubt their abilities because of where they come from.
Sam is also founder of Scotland’s first – and only – student-led product design
company, Infinity Design, whose profits feed straight into the improvement of
his school’s Design and Technology faculty. As a keen fundraiser, Sam has recently abseiled down the
Forth Rail Bridge for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. Sam would like to continue raising money,
especially for charities that have helped those close to him, and he hopes to continue his charitable work
in the US, whether it be through community initiatives or even national projects.
Benjamin Hopkins – Bowdoin College
Stafford, West Midlands (Wolgarston High School)
Ben Hopkins has lived in Staffordshire all his life, and will be the first in his
family to attend university. His passion for international travel was sparked by a
French exchange in high school, and further encouraged by an expedition in
Italy as part of his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Ben enjoys sailing and
regularly races at his local club, as well as teaching beginners the basics of the
sport. He further contributes to his community as a Young Leader in the Scout
Association. Tutoring a GCSE Maths class and leading his school’s Maths
Challenge Team demonstrates his passion for the subject, however Ben is
excited by the flexible US system and aims to make use of the variety of
courses on offer in order to broaden his university experience.
Emma Humphries – Smith College
Widnes, North West England (Cronton Sixth Form College)
Emma Humphries is a committed, enthusiastic student from Widnes, Cheshire.
She is the first from her family to pursue higher education and the first from her
school to apply to the US. A keen martial artist, Emma is currently a blue stripe
belt in Kuk Sool Won (a Korean martial art) and is a five-time gold medallist,
ranking 1st in national competitions in Liverpool and Edinburgh. Alongside this
she is a member of Cronton Sixth Form College's Centre of Excellence for
Performing Arts and has starred in their productions of Dracula: The Musical
and Chess. Amongst many other things, Emma is most looking forward to the
intellectual freedom and flexibility that the US offers, as well as gaining a
greater sense of independence and immersing herself in a different, more diverse culture.
Connor Keys – Vanderbilt University
Kesh, Northern Ireland (Portora Royal School)
Connor Keys, from Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, is the first person to apply to
US universities in his family. Loving everything sports related, Connor's days
are packed with activity. He rows for his school's boat club and was a member
of the J18 8+ which won the Championship of Ireland for the school in 2014 for
the first time in 34 years, which he retained the following year. He is vicecaptain of the school's 1st XV rugby team and has spent a summer training four
days a week with the Ulster U19 squad a year early. He also captained his local
football team for four years and was selected to train as part of a Northern
Ireland Excellence Squad. Connor is still undecided as to what he wants to do
in the future and has many interests ranging from Maths and Physics to Art and Drama. The freedom as
to what can be studied at American universities and the ability to apply to a university rather than a
course were massive selling points for him. The extra-curricular opportunities available at US institutions
were also very appealing and Connor cannot wait to get involved with as many activities on campus as
possible.
Alexander Laiman – MIT
Harverfordwest, Wales (Ysgol Dewi Sant)
An introspective techie with a devotion to the arts and sciences, Alexander
Laiman has resided in rural South West Wales for the past seven years. Eager
to break out of this bubble, he is the first from his family and community to apply
to US colleges, which is driven by the extensive diversity and opportunity
available in US institutions. He is the Senior Prefect in his school and not only
acts as a peer mentor and tutor but also works with a team to improve the local
community and prospects for less urbanized students. Outside of the classroom
he can either be found working on his dunk at the local basketball club, of which
he was a founder, playing along to old-school metal riffs on his guitar, or
tinkering with electronics at home. He hopes to study Physics alongside Engineering at university while
maintaining a broad education and feels the US is the perfect place for this liberal education. Inspired by
the prospect of fantastic internships, amazing resources and some of the best tuition in the world, he
strives to broaden his horizons and make the most of the opportunity given to him.
Nathan Lewis – Duke University
London (Saint Olave's Grammar School)
Nathan Blaise Lewis comes from Plumstead in South East London and attends
Saint Olave's Grammar School. He has many leadership roles within school
being one of four House Captains, the vice-chairman of the Sixth Form
Association, a Sports Prefect and a Year 10 Form Prefect. He is very sporty
and is part of the 1st XV rugby team, the basketball team captain and he
represents the school playing Eton Fives and football. Nathan has AfroCaribbean and British heritage, with paternal grandparents hailing from Jamaica
and his mother's family being from Greenwich. He is an aspirational engineer
hoping to major in Electrical Engineering and has tried to fuel this interest by
completing work experience on the Crossrail project with the traction power team and is the lead
designer in his robotics team where he recently became a Vex Robotics national finalist and qualified for
the World Championships in Kentucky.
Alexander Mackie – Trinity College
Headcorn, South East England (Maidstone Grammar School)
Alex Mackie was born and raised in the small Kentish village of Headcorn. He
will be the first person in his family to go to university and cannot wait to start
this new and exciting chapter of his life. Alex is an avid boxer who trains
regularly and also likes to give back by coaching the sport at both his local club
as well as the school club which he helps to run. Alex has a passion for
language and debate taking part in Model United Nations and his school's
debating society, of which he is an active member. He is fascinated by both the
subjects of Philosophy and History, and the ability to combine these two loves
into one course is a key factor that draws him to the US system of study.
Luke Mansfield – Rhodes College
Nottingham, East Midlands (The Nottingham Emmanuel School)
Luke Mansfield is from Nottingham in the East Midlands. He is a first generation
university student who was the first in his school to apply to US institutions.
Luke is an active member in his local community: he regularly participates in
volunteering work at his local charity shop and leads children’s groups at his
local church. Often, Luke has used his passions to benefit those within his
community. For example, he’s created a Spanish Young Leaders group for
Year 7s to improve their Spanish skills while increasing their confidence and
ability to lead others in the process. After being amazed by the opportunities
that the academic freedom of the American liberal arts education offers, Luke
has been excited about the possibility of living in a different country and exploring a different culture. At
university, Luke currently hopes to study Spanish, and make use of the fantastic study abroad options
available, as well as learning about new subjects to broaden his academic knowledge. Trying out new
extracurricular activities in the US such as helping to run a campus radio station is something Luke is
very much looking forward to taking part in.
Awnit Singh Marta – Harvard College
London (Greenford High School)
Awnit Singh Marta is a west Londoner who is not only the first in his family to
apply to the USA, but is also the first in the family to attend university. Native to
Afghanistan, Awnit used to live in the Netherlands and immigrated to the UK
with his parents and three brothers nine years ago. Awnit loves to embark on
interdisciplinary activities: the deputy head of his school’s student voice body;
the electrician and driver of the school’s go-kart team; and founder of a Punjabi
folk dance club for juniors. He was also selected by the Royal Astronomical
Society to attend the European Southern Observatory Astronomy Camp in Italy
last year. Awnit wishes to pursue education in the US because he believes that
it does not limit his paths in life. He looks forward to the immense diversity of the students, both culturally
and academically, as well as the student-led organisations.
Maria McAveety – Skidmore College
Glasgow, Scotland (Our Lady's High School Cumbernauld)
Maria McAveety is from Glasgow, Scotland and attends Our Lady's High
School in Cumbernauld. She was the first in her immediate family to achieve a
Higher qualification or equivalent and will be the first to attend university. She is
proactive in her community through being a leader at the local Scout group,
helping at a club for disabled children and delivering baked goods in her village.
Maria carried out work experience in the Scottish Parliament and her main
interests are in the social subjects. Howeverm she also loves music and does
street performance in her spare time. US study appeals to Maria as through the
liberal arts curriculum she would be able to study a variety of subjects,
something which appeals to her due to her range of interests. The ability to apply without deciding a
degree subject also was a factor in her decision to study in the US as she is uncertain of which she
wants to major in.
Jack McGeehan – Claremont McKenna College
Derry, Northern Ireland (St Columb's College)
Jack McGeehan hails from Derry, Northern Ireland and is fuelled by ambition.
The first of his family to go to the US, he never had much hope of study outside
of Ireland before this programme. Still deliberating between a career in law,
politics, physics or economics, and harbouring passions for many other areas of
study, the liberal arts system suits him perfectly. Jack is extremely proud of his
Irish heritage and, although he is currently preparing to take his Grade 5 exam
in electric guitar, he also plays traditional Irish guitar. However, Jack wants
more and sees the US as the first step into a career where he can make his
mark, where he can make a change, where he can do something great. His
ambition continues into his sporting life where he captains his extremely successful local Gaelic football
club and also plays rugby with City of Derry Rugby Club.
Joe McGrath – Princeton University
Doncaster, Yorkshire and the Humber (The McAuley Catholic High School)
Joe McGrath, an 18-year-old school student from Doncaster, will be of the first
generation in his family to attend higher education and the first to study abroad.
Joe, who grew up in a mining village with two older sisters, is looking to
constantly better himself in all aspects of his life. A dedicated athlete who has
taken part in various sports since the age of six, Joe has developed his
sprinting skills over the years to a point at which he came 3rd in the 100m at
two national championships in 2014. Joe is able to balance his track and his
academic life successfully: he has been able to attain top A-level and GCSE
grades whilst still being able to make national finals for his age group. He also
volunteers weekly to mentor Year 8s with their Maths due to his previous struggles in the subject. Joe
believes that an education in the US will help to develop his sprinting capabilities to a point where he
could perhaps compete for his country and also provide him with a vast amount of job opportunities in
the academic topics he is most interested in: Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Economics.
Kevin Mokhtar – NYU Abu Dhabi
London (Bishop Thomas Grant School)
Kevin Mokhtar from Streatham, London is an advocate for studying beyond
national boundaries. His devotion to study in the US has been driven by his
curious and adventurous character, which motivates him to explore the
changing world around him. As a Young Darwin Scholar, Kevin wants to extend
his passion for the environment through pursuing a major in Geography. Kevin
will be first in his family to attend university, and he is already planning to form
his own travel society and take part in the student leadership body. He believes
that studying in the US will provide him with a fun and insightful adventure to
meet new people and discover a whole different world that enhances a
student’s academic and social life experience.
Danukshi Mudannayake – Harvard College
Ilford, Greater London (Woodford County High School)
Danu Mudannayake, from Ilford, Essex is in the first generation in her family to
attend university and to explore the opportunities presented by American
colleges. Having first encountered the Sutton Trust US Programme at the
Fulbright USA College Day in 2014, Danu was eager to discover more
information about the prospect of US higher education. Danu enjoys partaking
in a multitude of activities when she isn’t at school or tutoring young children in
English and Maths. From leading the Political Art Club she founded at school,
and developing her musical skills in a number of school ensembles, Danu
relishes chances to express her creativity, allowing her to attain the Silver
Treble Clef award for musical dedication. Public speaking has also been of interest to Danu, engaging in
tournaments such as the North London Model United Nations and Rotary Public Speaking Competition.
Her wide range of academic interests, ranging from Art to Maths and History to French, have made the
US seem like the ideal destination for her to continue her studies in a liberal arts setting, combining the
subjects she adores and exploring new avenues of thought.
Owen Ogden – Yale University
Wigton, North West England (The Nelson Thomlinson School)
Owen Ogden is originally from Cleethorpes in Lincolnshire, but spent a large
part of his childhood living on the Isle of Man before moving to Cumbria,
England. He and his two elder sisters are the first generation in their family to
attend university. Owen is a keen footballer and played successfully at club
level for several years as well as representing the Isle of Man U13s at county
level. A passionate historian, Owen thoroughly enjoys assisting with History
lessons for younger pupils in school. Additionally, he co-founded and chairs the
school debating society and is involved in one-to-one literacy support. Owen’s
interest in the US started three years ago when he began to look at all the
options available to him and he realised that a US education would allow him to combine his interests of
History, Politics and Physics. He is looking forward to joining a university soccer team as well as having
the opportunity to experience US culture.
Kerry O'Neil – University of Pennsylvania
Glasgow, Scotland (Notre Dame High School)
Kerry O'Neil lives in Glasgow and attends Notre Dame High School. She is the
first person in her school to apply to US institutions and will be the first in her
family to go to university. A music lover, Kerry is part of the Glasgow Schools
Symphony Orchestra where she plays the cello and often performs in her
community and in public as a singer/songwriter. She enjoys learning about
other cultures and languages and passes on this knowledge by teaching an
Italian class weekly to younger pupils in her school. Kerry is active in her
school's pupil council and has been responsible for representing her house
group for four years. Kerry is proud of volunteering at her church and in her
community with her talent for music and leads the singing in her church on a weekly basis. She is
extremely interested in studying in the US as she wants to pursue a double major in Politics and Italian
but is also looking forward to being able to pursue her other interests by taking a variety of different
classes.
Robyn Pattison – Skidmore College
Rosyth, Scotland (Dunfermline High School)
Robyn Pattison is a dedicated student from Rosyth, Scotland. She loves
debating and has recently competed in the European Youth Parliament National
Finals. She is also a House Captain and a committed house council member,
and has recently put forward a motion to have more prefect duties. She loves
the arts and organises projects as a Fife Youth Arts Director and will be putting
on a gallery featuring high school students’ work. Robyn wants to study
Psychology in the US but is looking forward to the liberal arts curriculum’s
flexibility so she can pursue all her passions. She is also in the first generation
of her family to attend university.
Roshaye Poleon – Northwestern University
London (Ursuline High School, Wimbledon)
Roshaye Poleon is the eldest of three children and is often considered the
bookworm of the family. She will be the first in her family to attend university
and the first in her school to apply to US institutions, which is a big achievement
for her. She’s generally quite sporty and used to take part in a lot of sports
clubs after school including netball, athletics, basketball and even trained to be
a Wimbledon Ball Girl. With a younger sister with a rare genetic disability, she
enjoys spending her free time volunteering at specialist schools as she is able
to use the skills she has learnt working with her sister at home, to help other
children. This year she has chosen to continue her volunteer work at a care
home for people with dementia. She has always admired the sense of school pride that students show at
US institutions and believes that really adds to the undergraduate experience. She hopes to major in
Neuroscience, a course that is only offered by a small number of UK universities as a standalone
Carol Rossell – Tufts University
Bognor Regis, South East England (Felpham Community College)
Carol Rossell is an ambitious young woman from the small town of Bognor
Regis on the south coast, notable for the seaside resort of Butlins where she
also works as a lifeguard. In the neighbouring village, Carol heavily participates
in her school's community. An integral member of the School Council, the
Liberal Democrat candidate for the Mock General Election and the co-founder
of the Rights Respecting Schools ambassador group, she also mentors
younger students in the sciences and Maths and runs the school's science club.
From a single parent background, Carol will be the first in her immediate family
to attend university. After reading an article about the increased financial
support offered by US universities, she noticed a poster in her sixth form common room advertising the
Sutton Trust US Programme. This opened her eyes to the ability to tailor her education towards her
scientific passions of Biology and Chemistry, whilst still being able to engage in other subjects. She is
also looking forward to joining a women's rugby team on campus, having palyed the sport briefly at
county level.
Katie Russell – Northwestern University
Glasgow, Scotland (St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School)
Katie Russell was raised by her single mother in Glasgow, Scotland and will be
the first in her family to attend university. She is extremely involved in her
school community as a school captain and also with her school Drama club,
being involved with several school productions. Her work as captain has
allowed her to connect with younger pupils and help forge a strong sense of
community within the school. Katie is also a member of a group of young
Glasgow filmmakers, with her involvement leading to her creating over five
short films, one of which was screened at a local film festival. She began to be
interested in US study after discovering the Sutton Trust US Programme and
learning that it would enable her to combine both her passion: Biology and Film Studies. She is looking
forward to experiencing the strong sense of school pride and community that the US has to offer.
Ahlbie Squire – Pomona College
Lostwithiel, South West England (Bodmin College)
Ahlbie Squire is from Cornwall, UK, and will be not only the first in his family to
attend university, but also the first in his school to apply to US universities. He is
actively involved in a peer mentoring scheme that helps to improve the lives of
younger pupils at his school. Up until a year ago, Ahlbie was home-schooled,
which meant he had to self-study for most of his GCSEs, and this helped him
discover his interest in Science. Ahlbie is intrigued by the idea of a US college
education, which he thinks is much more rounded and allows individuals to look
into their field(s) further such as through undergraduate research. Currently a
keen sailor, hiker and cyclist, but also proficient in Spanish from self-study at
AS-level, he is hoping he can share his passions with a college community.
Charles Stewart – Brown University
Purley, Greater London (Wilson's School)
A hopeful escapee from Croydon, South London, Charlie Stewart has been in
love with illustration and animation ever since he was rejected by the Year 1
football team. He delivered a presentation at a competition in the Saatchi
Gallery in London about the 1982 short animated film Vincent, was awarded
second place by the editor of Tate Etc., and was asked to speak again this
year. He also loves Drama, and played Macbeth in his school's last Christmas
production. He is an active member of his community, having been chosen as a
member of the Croydon Youth Board, as a mentor for the National Citizen
Service, as deputy Head Boy of his school, and as the editor of the school
magazine. It is the opportunities that US universities provide for him to continue these interests
alongside his academics that attracted him to an undergraduate degree in the States. He would like to
study English Literature, and is looking forward to drawing cartoons for any and all campus papers that
will have him.
Jack Tait – Princeton University
London (Highams Park School)
Jack Tait is from Chingford, East London and is an outgoing, confident young
man. He is in the first generation of his family to attend university and will be the
first person in his school to apply to US universities. Ever since the 2010
general election, Jack has been in love with politics and this summer completed
two weeks of work experience in David Cameron's office (meeting the Prime
Minister at Downing Street) as well as spending a week at a political think-tank.
Closer to home, he was appointed Head Boy at his school, is a fully qualified
football referee with the London FA and also regularly represents his school in
debating competitions, winning the South East round of the International
Competition for Young Debaters and finishing inside the top 30 at the international final. Jack and his
family are a very close-knit group, especially after Jack's mother fell seriously ill and he became her main
carer for nearly two years. The main reason Jack wants to study in the US is the increased chance it
gives students to practice all of their interests and hobbies alongside their studies. He would like to study
Political Science, with the possibility of a double major or a minor involving Economics as well as
Politics.
Bethany Tallis – University of Rochester
Gourock, Scotland (Clydeview Academy)
Beth Tallis lives on the west coast of Scotland in a small town, but was born
and raised for several years in Coventry. She is the first in her school to apply
to the US and will be a first generation university student. Beth's passion for
helping others led her to volunteering for St Andrews First Aid, whilst her love
for music means she is the first flute in her county's orchestra. Beth wishes to
study Biology and Geography at university and hopes to double major. She is
also keen to get involved with community life and continue volunteering at
university.
Sam Weaver – University of Richmond
Harwich, East of England (Colchester Royal Grammar School)
Sam Weaver, a native of Essex, has spent his life living in small coastal towns
such as Harwich and Clacton-on-Sea. He will be the first in his family to go on
to university after finishing school; his dreams lie in the US because of the
liberal arts education, which would allow him to explore different areas of
learning and to acquire a breadth of new skills and knowledge. Sam is a keen
football player, currently in his ninth season at Little Oakley Football Club – he
was recently awarded a ‘Long Service Award’ by the district league. A highly
involved member of his school, Sam is both a school prefect and a house
prefect; acting as a peer mentor to younger students at the school whilst
organising and competing in competitions for his house. His extra-curricular activities within the school
range from mentoring French to struggling GCSE students to representing the school in football, rugby
and athletics. Sam looks forward to studying in America so that he may embrace a new culture whilst
sharing his own with others.
Rishara Weerakoon – Vanderbilt University
London (St Dominic's Sixth Form College)
Rishara Weerakoon attended St. Dominic's Sixth Form College in Harrow-onthe-Hill where she studied Maths, Further Maths, Geography, and Physics.
Whilst still pursuing Physics, Rishara would love to explore her other interests
such as Human Geography, Economics, Drama, and English Literature. She
was born in a very small town called Stade near Hamburg in Germany, and
moved to London when she was six years old. Both of her parents are from
small villages in Sri Lanka, and Rishara has been raised in a Buddhist home.
Change has been a big part of Rishara’s live, having moved country at such a
young age, as well as moving home and school within London three times.
Rishara now embraces the challenges that arise with change as they have moulded her into who she is
today.
Rebecca Wiggins – Pomona College
Hornchurch, Greater London (Havering Sixth Form College)
Rebecca Wiggins lives in Romford, East London and she will be the first in her
family to attend university. She first became interested in US higher education
after discussing it with her American pen pal. Having a wide range of academic
interests, she feels like she is more suited to a liberal arts curriculum than the
single subject system in the UK. She is very passionate about foreign
languages and cultures, currently studying German in school and teaching
herself Japanese in her free time. After spending a month trekking and
volunteering in southern Peru, she wants to continue to broaden her horizons
and see the world. She plans to major in either Computer Science or Physics
while continuing to study modern foreign languages. She also wants to take advantage of all the extracurricular activities offered by US universities.
Conor Wilson – Princeton University
Downpatrick, Northern Ireland (St Patrick's Grammar School)
Conor Wilson is from County Down, Northern Ireland and is keenly interested in
both Biotechnology and Linguistics - it was this unusual combination of interests
which initially drew him to the more flexible American system. He was also
attracted by the number of opportunities for community engagement at US
colleges, given his position as the current and founding president of his high
school's St Vincent de Paul Society conference which fundraises thousands pf
pounds annually for the disadvantaged in the local community and his
involvement with Saphara, a charity which seeks to empower young people in
India through education. This year he was a national finalist in the All Ireland
Linguistics Olympiad, placing him among the top 500 young linguists in the Anglosphere, and obtained
commendation for his performance. He is considering studying some variation of biochemistry or
linguistics, being the first in his school for many years to pursue US study. A member of a vast extended
Irish and Scottish family, he will be the first in his immediate family to attend university.