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Family scholarship helps support the future of languages in higher education Two graduates of Newcastle University have set up a generous scholarship for a student in the School of Modern Languages. illiam and Catherine Allen met while studying at Newcastle University, and both graduated from the School of Modern Languages in 1995. They got married shortly after graduation, and William went into banking while Catherine embarked on a career in advertising before leaving to raise a family. They now have four children, aged four, seven, 11 and 13.
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In 2008, William and Catherine decided to give something back to the University. For them, Newcastle is ‘a special city as it is where we met’. They remember ‘the warmth of the people (in stark contrast to the chill North Easterly wind), the vibrancy of the city and the high standards of the School of Modern Languages.’ The Allen Family Scholarship is unusual because it offers one student support with fees for each of the four years of the degree programme. The recipient of the first scholarship, Laura Bell, is studying French and Spanish, the same degree studied by Catherine Allen. Laura says, ‘I can only describe my surprise and excitement upon finding out that the panel had chosen me. In my first year I really enjoyed learning more about the history of France since the Revolution, about the culture of both Spain and France and in
general improving my language skills whilst making lots of new friends.’ William and Catherine feel that ‘it is important to give something back when you have had success in your life’. They see education as ‘a really special gift that not only lasts a lifetime but can actually change that person’s life and prospects and also the lives of their children’. This year marks the centenary of the School of Modern Languages at Newcastle University. This has been marked by several celebratory conferences and events, including a conference on ‘Transmissions’ opened by Kate Adie in March 2011. The School would like to get more alumni involved in 2011/12 and build a network of Modern Languages alumni who recognise the value of the study of languages. If you are a Modern Languages graduate and would like to take the opportunity to get in touch with the School and with your fellow graduates, please contact Katie Harland, Development Manager at Katie.Harland@ncl.ac.uk or 0191 222 5400
I am continuing to enjoy my course and am heavily into writing my dissertation; I’m producing a critical discourse analysis on how the government attempts to make people turn to entrepreneurship through text and talk, which will end in a narrative analysis of how entrepreneurs and business owners talk about themselves, how they explain what they do to make a living. Aviva has offered me a graduate job; I start four days after handing my dissertation in! I’m really looking forward to it. Ben Lester, Business School Innovation and Enterprise Scholar
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ADVANCE 7 09 2011