New permanent scholarship fund to honour former Vice-Chancellor
University of Exeter alumni have honoured former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Steve Smith, with a new scholarship scheme that will support six students from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend the University each year.
More than £1 million has been raised by University of Exeter alumni and friends to fund the new Sir Steve Smith Scholarships. The scholarships will support one scholar in each of the University’s six Colleges at any one time, with each receiving £6,000 per year for the duration of their studies.
As the first member of his family to attend university, Sir Steve Smith has always been passionate about targeting talented students from backgrounds similar to his own, and has been committed to helping students fulfil their potential at Exeter and beyond.
I was delighted to make a founding donation to this fund myself and am so grateful to everyone who has joined me in making a difference to all these future students.
Sir Steve Smith
Professor Sir Steve Smith said: “I have always believed that education has the power to transform lives and throughout my time at Exeter, was passionate about supporting widening participation schemes and programmes.
“I was delighted to make a founding donation to this fund myself and am so grateful to everyone who has joined me in making a difference to all these future students. I cannot thank you enough.”
With new research suggesting that disadvantaged students have fallen behind their more privileged peers during the pandemic, the scholarships are now more important than ever.
The first Sir Steve Smith Scholars will start in September 2021.
More details can be found here.
Editor: Ella Shadwell
