Bryan McCabe-Bell, Director of Business, Enterprise and Tourism, Craig Duncan, James Hutt, William Garner and Gaynor Jamieson

Two Fife College students are preparing for the trip of a lifetime after each being awarded a George Lauder Bursary to study in the USA this summer.

James Hutt, from Kinnesswood and Craig Duncan from Kirkcaldy are delighted to have heard recently that they were picked from dozens of entries to benefit from the George Lauder Bursary which is certain to give them a head start in their future studies and career.

What has made the scholarship win even more special is that the two students have had their scholarship award given the seal of approval from none other than Great-Great-Grandson of George Lauder, William Garner.

William and his family, who live in Virginia and also Washington DC, have visited the College on a number of occasions in the past. William was delighted to recently have lunch with the students and hear all about their plans as they prepare to travel to the USA this summer to study subjects relating to their course.

The Bursary is funded through annual contributions from the descendants of George Lauder and other friends of the College in the USA and administered by the St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York.

Said William: “I am thrilled that my trip to Scotland has coincided with the George Lauder Bursary Award – it has been wonderful to meet James and Craig who are both truly deserving and I’m certain will benefit hugely from their trip to the USA and learning experiences.

“My Great-Great-Grandfather, George Lauder, would be delighted to know that a scholarship like this was being awarded in his name in Dunfermline, enabling generations after him to benefit from experiences that will enhance their futures.”  

The award of the George Lauder Bursary celebrates the vision of George Lauder, the Uncle of Andrew Carnegie, in promoting the foundation in 1899 of a Further Education College in Dunfermline, now known as Fife College.

James, 24, who is currently studying, HND Architectural Technologies, plans to study Architecture at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York on his visit to the USA.

Said James: “I am delighted to win this bursary award - it’s great to be recognised and to win such a prestigious scholarship. I can’t wait to get out there and start my course, and sample life in the USA. My next step, after Fife College is to go on to study architecture – this experience will give me the chance to stand out from the crowd and hopefully secure a place at university.”

Craig, 22, is also very pleased to be awarded such a prestigious Bursary and plans to study Social Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Said Craig:

“After leaving High School I went to university for two years, I decided to then go on and do the BA Learning Difficulties/Disabilities course at Fife College. I am really enjoying it. Getting this opportunity is the icing on the cake for me – I never thought that I would get a chance like this, it’s a dream come true.”

Gaynor Jamieson, Trust Fundraiser, said: “We are delighted to award the George Lauder Bursary to Craig and James. Throughout a rigorous selection process, they both demonstrated a great commitment for the subject areas that they are currently studying and a real passion to explore and develop this further in the USA.

“I would like to thank the descendants of George Lauder, the other friends of the College based in the USA and the Saint Andrew’s Society of the State of New York for their continued support that allows this once in a lifetime opportunity to be offered to our students.”

Fife College offers 42 scholarships throughout the year as well as the George Lauder Bursary. For further details, visit our scholarship pages or email scholarships@fife.ac.uk