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York elite athletes awarded scholarships

Posted on 15 November 2017

Three University of York students have received Santander Elite Sports Scholarships worth a total of £15,000 to help them realise their sporting ambitions.

Jessica Rumble, Joseph Smithers and Calder Trewin Marshall received their scholarships for fencing, kendo and rowing at a special event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Santander Universities UK.

Santander Universities has been working with York since 2011 to support international mobility, sports scholarships, internships and student enterprise at the University.

The Elite Sports Scholarships were introduced in 2015 to celebrate sporting excellence and help students pursue elite sporting careers.

The three scholars awarded are:

Jessica Rumble - Fencing

Jessica is a second year Film and Television Production student and fencer. Having competed internationally for Canada, through her dual citizenship, she now hopes to compete across Europe in order to further improve her ranking, to represent GB at the world championships in 2018 and to become a future Olympian.

Joseph Smithers - Kendo

Joseph is a third year Politics with International Relations student, who has practiced Kendo from an early age. He has represented the GB team and is seeking to train in Japan with the aim of becoming top 4 in Europe and to compete at the World Kendo Championships in South Korea in 2018.

Calder Trewin Marshall - Rowing

Calder is a third year English student. Since starting rowing in his first year at York he has represented the University at Henley Royal Regatta and achieved record results for the club at BUCS regatta and national regattas. He came third at the British Rowing Championships, racing against many returning Olympians. He is a GB Rowing START (Olympic talent pathway) athlete with aspirations of a GB 2018 U23 European Champions place.

Keith Morris, Head of York Sport at the University of York, said: “Our partnership with Santander represents a joint commitment to support those with the ability to achieve at the highest levels. The Santander Elite Sports Scholarships provide essential support to student sportsmen and women in individual ways that give them every opportunity to succeed. 

“We are proud of the diverse range of sports our scholars have been supported in. In the last three years many have competed at World, European and national championship level when this would not have been possible without Santander’s support. Santander takes a genuine interest in our students and we very much value Santander’s support - as do the Elite Scholars who benefit from it.”

Rachel Sellars, University Relationship Branch Manager at Santander UK, said: “We are extremely proud of the relationship we have built with the University of York since we signed our Santander Universities partnership here in 2011. 

“The SME internship scheme, international mobility funding and enterprise and entrepreneurship funding continue to support University of York students undertaking a diverse range of exciting, sometimes life changing and ambitious projects and experiences. 

“Awarding funding to talented sportsmen and women through the Santander Elite Sport Scholarships for another year is no exception. We look forward to following this year’s recipients as they strive to achieve their sporting aspirations.”

The Scholarships were awarded by Matt Hutnell, Director of Santander Universities UK, at a reception hosted by York’s Vice-Chancellor Koen Lamberts. 

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