LOCAL STUDENTS AMONGST WINNERS OF NEW SCHOLARSHIP

Four young students from Haverfordwest, Narberth and Saundersfoot and a postgraduate developing river turbine technology have been announced as the five winners of a major new £6,000 scholarship scheme launched by Milford Haven Port Authority.

The four students – Emma Smith, of Clover Park, Haverfordwest; Angharad O’Leary, of Ludchurch, Narberth; Laura Carr, of South Gate Park, Spittal, Haverfordwest; and Laura Winstanley, of Castle View, Saundersfoot - will be supported by the award for a year of their degree course at their universities.

The Authority also gave £100 to each of seven other undergraduates who made it to the final shortlist for interview, but in the end were not chosen for an award.

They all qualified for their awards because they lived, and were educated, in Pembrokeshire.

Emma, aged 23, now studies medicine at Bristol University; Angharad, aged 21, and Laura Carr, aged 21, are both at Oxford University studying molecular and cellular biochemistry at Christ Church and law at Pembroke College respectively; and Laura Winstanley, aged 21, is at Nottingham University studying medical science.

Postgraduate James Orme, aged 24, comes from Dibden Purlieu, Southampton, but qualified for his scholarship because he studies a subject relevant to the role and activities of the Port Authority.

James, aged 24, is studying for a PhD in the School of Engineering at the University of Wales, Swansea, in the area of river current turbines, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly technology which could have a worldwide market value of £25 billion.

The Port Authority’s call for applications for its new scholarship fund resulted in over 300 candidates, who were assessed by a panel including head teachers from the county with an independent chairman.

Port Authority chief executive Ted Sangster said they were impressed with the calibre of many of the applicants.

“The Authority receives many requests for financial support from a variety of community bodies and individuals,” he said.

“These are assessed by our Community Support Group, made up of volunteer representatives from across the 240 staff we employ. From the type and number of requests it received, this group identified a significant community benefit in providing some financial support to degree students.

“The idea of a Scholarship Scheme grew from this, and the Port Authority saw it as a means of making a further contribution to support the economy of Pembrokeshire and West Wales,” he added.

“We have been very pleased and encouraged with the quality of responses we had, but I would pay particular tribute to the five award winners we have selected. They show excellent promise, and we wish them well in their continuing studies.

“Hopefully we may see some – or even all – of them back in Pembrokeshire in years to come, making a valuable contribution to the development of our local economy.”

Mr Sangster said the Authority had been so impressed with the response that the they now intended to continue the scheme.

“We recognize that it is providing some real benefit, albeit of course only in a small way and to a small number, but we have decided that this will become an annual award, along similar lines each year.”

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