This year LSE coordinated two separate Donors and Scholars Receptions for undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships. The evenings celebrated the role of philanthropy at LSE, bringing together students with the donors whose generosity has made their LSE education possible.
The reception for postgraduate scholarships was held on 12 March. Chris Yates, Director of LSE Advancement began proceedings by speaking about the four key fundraising priorities for the School, including Realising Potential – supporting the best and brightest students throughout the world no matter their background.
Guests then heard from scholarship recipients Charity Sammy and Jacob Williams, scholarship donor Cato Stonex (BSc International Relations 1986), and LSE Director Professor Craig Calhoun.
Charity, a Programme for African Leadership scholar, expressed her gratitude to her donors by saying that “without the generous support of Mr and Mrs Lalji and Ms Ursula van Almsick, my colleagues and I would not be part of this new crop of African leaders”.
Jacob, the Alf Waddington scholar, described the impact his scholarship has had on his studies. “It has allowed me to solely concentrate on my degree, which if all goes to plan will enable me to gain a place on the wonderful PhD programme here at LSE,” he commented. “My future ambition is a rather large one and I know I have my work cut out…I would like to become the first sociologically influenced Prime Minister that genuinely cares about the population’s well-being over anything else, while [being] one that radically changes the way we think about and take part in politics.”
Alumnus Cato Stonex, donor of the Stonex PhD scholarship and Stonex Undergraduate Scholarship for Eastern EU Students, explained his reasons for supporting students at LSE. “It is not just to see the smile on the face of the young people – although that in itself would be a very good justification. It is to help widen participation. Making sure that the School can be a place for those that can benefit most from coming here is a worthy cause, and I am very happy to be associated with that.”
Cato concluded his speech by reminding his scholars of the virtuous circle of giving: “I always say to the students I have been able to help that if they happen to find that they get lucky later on in life, perhaps they remember someone giving them a helping hand and that they do the same in the future.”
>> Read Cato Stonex's interview alongside his scholar, Simon Toner
Videos for the 2014 Donors and Scholars Reception can be found here.