6 October 2023 

Fife College has welcomed back two students who have been studying and volunteering in New York City over the summer as part of a once-in-a-lifetime trip funded by one of its scholarship programmes. 

Levi Kaye, from Dunfermline, completed fashion and media courses with the prestigious Pratt Institute and also the world-famous New York University (NYU ) while Julia Sherriffs, also from Dunfermline, completed three events courses with NYU while volunteering at Riverside Park in Manhattan with their events team.

The amazing opportunity to study and gain skills in the USA is all thanks to the annual George Lauder Bursary, part of Fife College’s successful scholarship programme, which is now on the lookout for two more lucky students to follow in Levi and Julia’s footsteps in summer 2024. 

The awards are generously funded by the family of George Lauder and the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York, which fully supported both students’ 11-week trips including food, travel, accommodation and course fees. 

William Garner, George Lauder’s Great-Great Grandson, played a pivotal role in planning and arranging the details for both students’ visits, ensuring they had the most enjoyable and memorable time while maximising every opportunity of their stay.

Both students were awarded the scholarship opportunity in January this year after completing an application and interview process and flew out to New York at the beginning of June.

During their trip to New York, both students stayed in the Halls of Residence at St. George Towers, EHS in Brooklyn and were able to fully immerse themselves into life as a student in NYC, enjoying classes, meeting new friends, and experiencing the distinct creative vibe at Pratt, NYU and in the city.

Levi said:

“The opportunity to study in New York has changed my life completely! It opened my eyes to new opportunities and furthered my knowledge of the fashion industry. I really enjoyed visiting designer studios, museums and exhibits as part of my course. Studying Intensive Fashion Design at the Pratt Institute and photo-journalism at NYU, I was afforded the opportunity to gain loads of new skills, meet new people, and form lasting bonds both professionally and personally.

“None of this would have been possible without the support of Fife College, the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York and William Garner and his family. I’m incredibly grateful and excited to put my learnings in New York to good use at university.”

Julia said:

“During my time in New York, I not only deepened my understanding of the events industry that I aspire to work in, but I also acquired the confidence needed to pursue my dream career.

“I really enjoyed volunteering at Riverside Park, from salsa nights on the pier to movie nights, the events I volunteered at and the unique New Yorker lifestyle all contributed to a profoundly enriching experience. This scholarship wasn’t just a trip; it has fundamentally transformed my life.

“Words alone cannot express the depth of my appreciation for those who made this extraordinary opportunity possible. I will forever cherish their support and generosity.”

William Garner said: 

“I am delighted that Levi and Julia gained so much from their trip, it was great to meet up with them in New York and hear about their experiences. I was also very pleased to see how supportive they were of each other. It’s an exciting time as we open applications for summer 2024, which will enable two more candidates to benefit from this exciting Bursary award in the name of our Great-Great-Grandfather, George Lauder.”

Lyn Gold, Scholarship and Alumni Lead at Fife College, said:

“We are extremely fortunate to have this amazing scholarship as part of the range of scholarships and funding we offer to Fife College students.

“This is a truly life-changing opportunity that Levi and Julia have thoroughly enjoyed and during which they have been fantastic ambassadors for Fife College.

“We are enormously grateful to William Garner, the Lauder family and the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York for their continued support of this scholarship. 

“We are now on the lookout for two more lucky students to follow in Levi and Julia’s footsteps in summer 2024 – applications are open for students studying HND level and above, as well as former students who have left us within the last four years.”

Levi and Julia are both former students at Fife College, Levi previously studied HND Fashion Design and went on to Heriot-Watt University, he will now complete the final two years of his degree at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Julia is also a former student, completing HND Events Management and also a BA in Business Management. Julia currently works in the Marketing and PR Team at Fife College.

Adam Smith Scholarships, part of Fife College, is one of the largest college scholarship programmes in Scotland, awarding thousands of pounds each year to support students, develop opportunities, open doors and transform lives.

For further information about scholarships, including details on how to apply for the 2024 George Lauder Bursary, visit the Adam Smith Scholarships page on the Fife College website or email scholarships@fife.ac.uk.

Applications for the 2024 George Lauder Bursary close at midnight Monday 8 January 2024.