Winning Students 100 scholarship supports athletes for 2024/25

Twenty-four students from the University of Stirling – Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence – have been awarded support by Winning Students 100, the national sports scholarship programme.

Under the 2024/25 award, Stirling athletes spanning nine sports will receive grants of up to £3,000 and additional support, such as academic flexibility, to help them balance their studies with high-performance training and competition.

In total, 111 student athletes, spanning 32 sports and from 19 universities and colleges across Scotland, will be supported under the scheme this academic year.

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “It is very welcome news that Winning Students 100 will be supporting more student athletes than ever before. We are committed to helping young athletes achieve their goals. Being able to find the right balance between training, their studies and other commitments is critical to the wellbeing of student athletes. This programme will help these athletes to do that.”

Martin Boyle, Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have funded Winning Students 100 from the start. Winning Students has helped so many people succeed at college or university alongside developing a career in sport. It's great to see the programme supporting a record number of students this year. I wish all 111 student athletes every success in their future education and sporting careers.”

The University of Stirling athletes supported by Winning Students 100 for 2024/25 are: Owen Vinter (alpine skiing); Emma Kerr (basketball); Scott Meenagh (biathlon); Holly Wilkie-Milne and Amy Mitchell (both curling); Ross Laird and Alexander Farmer (both golf); Cameron Lynn, Crystelle Lake and Eilidh Gorrell (all gymnastics); Daisy Buchanan (skateboarding); Angharad Evans, Katie Shanahan, Samuel Downie, Holly McGill, George Smith, Lucy Grieve, Evie Davis, Abby Kane, David Annis and Michaella Glenister (all swimming); Isla Hedley, Millie Breese and Struan Bennet (all triathlon).

Winning Students 100 is funded through sportscotland and the Scottish Funding Council, in partnership with Scotland’s higher education and further education sector. The University of Stirling manages the scheme, supported by an advisory board and management group.