7 June 2021

A record number of Fife College students have received a boost thanks to the College’s scholarship programme, the Adam Smith Foundation.

This year 148 deserving students, up 40 on last year’s total of 108, have received a Russell Trust Scholarship, funded by the Russell Trust and the College’s Adam Smith Foundation.

The scholarship awards, which range from £50 to £500, will support students to buy equipment and resources to help them progress in their studies, giving them some much needed help and recognition for their hard work and commitment.

One of the 148 scholarship winners is English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) student Sherwan Alomar. Sherwan has had a challenging few years, leaving war torn Syria, his native country, to move to Scotland three years ago.

Despite his difficult background Sherwan is committed to supporting his family both in Scotland and back in Syria while studying and learning a new language.

Shewarn is on course to achieve his ESOL Level 5 qualification and has a 100% attendance for his course. He enjoys helping others and has taken on the extra responsibility of becoming a class representative.

Sherwan, who lives in Leven, said:

“I feel very happy that I was selected for this award, this means a lot to me. I will buy a printer, a laptop that has high specifications and a dictionary.

“The award will also help me focus on my studies and continue my dream to obtain a degree from a university in Scotland and get a good job.”

HNC Media and Communication student Samantha Donaldson, from Dunfermline, is another of this year’s delighted scholarship winners.

Samantha said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to have won the Russell Trust Scholarship Award. Having my efforts recognised by the college through this award is an amazing feeling, and it really means a lot to me.

“I plan on spending the money on either a new camera, or a laptop supporting better editing software, so that I can further advance my filming and video editing skills.

“As a woman from the Gypsy/Traveller community my passion is my people. My goal is to have a career centred on fair representation of Scotland's beautiful and diverse communities through media and film.”

The Russell Trust Scholarship, which has been supporting the College’s Adam Smith Foundation Scholarship programme since 1999, is part of a wide range of scholarships available to Fife College students each year.

Lyn Gold, Adam Smith Foundation Scholarship Co-ordinator, said:

“We are delighted to award a record number of students with a Russell Trust Scholarship this year. For over 20 years The Russell Trust has been supporting our students and we are extremely grateful to them for their generous support.

“Hearing the stories of our students, like Sherwan and Samantha, and knowing how much of a boost their scholarship awards have given them is truly heart-warming. Well done to all students who received a scholarship."

The Russell Trust was set up in the memory of Patrick Russell who died in action during World War II - through this the former Tullis Russell paper company, which was based in Glenrothes, has supported a huge number of local charities and educational institutions over the years.

Alice Croal, from the The Russell Trust, said: 

"On behalf of the Russell Trust, the Trustees offer heartfelt congratulations to all 148 recipients of this year's award. 

"Promoting higher education for the young people of Fife was of great importance to Sir David Russell, founder of the Russell Trust. Over 70 years after the Trust's founding it is fantastic to see this value still carried through by the Adam Smith Foundation's Russell Trust Scholarship. The Trustees hope these awards offer recognition to the recipients for all their hard-earned work, over a particularly difficult year."

Fife College’s Adam Smith Foundation 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 details about scholarships at Fife College visit the Adam Smith Foundation pageof the Fife College website or email scholarships@fife.ac.uk.