University launches new fundraising initiative to support students’ futures.
The University has launched a new fundraising initiative to support and empower students.
1yr ago
The University has launched a new funding initiative, The Hawthorn Scholarship, to support a full-time undergraduate student into a leadership role in Kent.
The scholarship is part of the University’s newly launched Futures programme which will offer a variety of scholarship opportunities for new and existing students to support them financially as they study at the University, as well as developing a network of Futures Partners to inspire and give professional support.
The Hawthorn Scholarship will offer £5,000 a year for three years to students looking to study with the Christ Church Business School from September 2023. It will also give the student access to dedicated mentor support to help them throughout their studies.
The Hawthorn Scholarship will be the largest award offered at the University and has been established thanks to the generosity of Iain Hawthorn, an alumnus of the Business School who saw his career transformed as a result of studying at Christ Church.
Iain studied MA Management Studies and completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Management Studies at the University.
Iain found studying at Christ Church a transformational experience, which boosted his skills, knowledge and confidence and says he feels incredibly proud of having studied at the University.
I am incredibly proud of having studied at Canterbury Christ Church University and having had such a genuinely life changing experience. I thought it was important that we should do something to directly help and encourage students to have the same opportunity. Being the first alumni to support the Futures programme with a scholarship, I hope it will inspire fellow Canterbury Christ Church graduates to become part of this incredibly important and powerful initiative. We can truly change lives.
Iain Hawthorn
Iain explains how he got involved with the Futures programme. “We were approached by the superb and very proactive Graduate Futures Team to be part of the launch of the initiative - having been happily helping the University and students in various ways over a few years now,” he said.
“It was excellent to see the University’s thoughts turn to their alumni becoming more engaged with the current students, being able to encourage and support them with their studies and not least raise their aspirations, is just such a powerful and rewarding thing to be part of.
“We felt we couldn’t stand by and see students miss out on an amazing future due to financial worries. If it wasn’t for Canterbury Christ Church, we wouldn’t be where we are now as a family, so it feels the right moment to offer support to someone with a dream to go to University. The University feels like being part of an even bigger family, being able to give someone that support and ability to thrive is just amazing.”
Ian hopes that with the help and support of the new funding initiatives, students can grow into future leaders of the Kent economy.
“We hope that the student will go on to be a leader in the future for the Kent economy, and make a difference to the lives of many others through their own career. . Seeing them succeed, then come back and share what they’ve learned, encouraging, and supporting others would mean we’ve genuinely made a long-lasting difference. We’ve been privileged to enjoy more confidence and success as a result of going to Canterbury Christ Church, we most certainly see this being a sustainable legacy into the future.”
Applicants will need to demonstrate the impact this scholarship will make to them, as well as showing a flair for leadership or an interest in activities outside of education or within their local community. They will also need to demonstrate a commitment to studying for the full three years of their course.
If you are interested in applying for the Hawthorn Scholarship and would like to find out more please your enquiries to futures@canterbury.ac.uk