Each year, critical support is gifted to the University of Aberdeen's Development Trust to provide scholarships and bursaries for its students. To mark the generosity of donors and the importance of scholarships provided to students, the University will host its second annual Scholars' Reception on Thursday 26 February.
The event will recognise this year's scholars and will be an opportunity for the University to thank the many individuals and organisations that provide critical support for scholarships and bursaries to students at the University.
Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice Chancellor will be joined at the event by Dr Maitland Mackie CBE LLD, Mackie's of Scotland, and Dr Graeme Roberts, Vice-Principal of Teaching and Learning, along with scholars, and University staff. Over 80 individual donors, corporate donors and representatives of Trusts and Foundations as well as the scholars themselves will attend the Reception to be held in Elphinstone Hall, King's College from 6.00-7.30pm.
Principal C Duncan Rice is delighted to be welcoming the scholars and donors to the evening event. He said: "The Scholars' Reception is an important annual occasion in the University's calendar. A great number of individuals, companies and trusts have generously gifted the University a significant amount of money for student support. We hope that this year's event will be an opportunity for our various donors to meet the students who have benefited from their generosity."
Companies, trusts and foundations as well as alumni and friends have gifted millions of pounds for the support of students. Since 1998, three thousand alumni have given over £350,000 for scholarships, hardship grants and student study support grants.
Most of the scholarships are in support of undergraduate students, often offered in conjunction with paid work experience. They are based on need as well as merit and the personal stories of the scholars inspire everyone who comes into contact with them.
The University offers students a range of scholarships and bursaries, including the need-based Prince of Wales scholarships, generously funded by the Royal Bank of Scotland, and the Gordon Morrison Scholarship in Engineering for honours students displaying academic potential.
Maitland Mackie, donor of the Sir Maitland Mackie Scholarship, will be attending the Reception and said, "Encouraging students who have faced challenges and hardship and continue to succeed is gratifying on its own. But when I get to meet and talk to the students, their stories become personal and that makes the scholarships even more meaningful."
A total of 43 individually funded scholarships are offered by companies, trusts, foundations or individuals with a further 60 scholarships available through the Entrance Bursary Scheme. The Scholarship Programme is part of the University's Sixth Century Campaign, launched by Principal C Duncan Rice in 1999.
The Sixth Century Campaign is one of the most ambitious campaigns by any Higher Education institution outside Oxbridge and aims to raise £150m by the end of the decade.