Two Year 13 students at Tong Leadership Academy have been awarded prestigious scholarships to help them work towards their dream careers.
Nokukhanya Moyo and Estera Mititelu have been granted £10,000 each, by the Frank Hester scholarship, to help finance their university education. Funding for the scholarship has been provided by Leeds-based healthcare software provider, TPP.
The scholarship was established in 2016 to help students who want to further their education, but who do not have the financial means to do so or whose circumstances have adversely affected their education.
Estera achieved an A in English and B in Law at A level and a Distinction in BTEC Business and will now continue her studies with a degree in Law at Leeds University. Estera will be the first person in her family to study at university and is grateful for the additional support she will receive.
She said: “I was absolutely speechless when I heard the news that I had been selected for the scholarship.
“The scholarship will make a huge difference. I work at a local tea-room and I couldn’t ever save that amount of money. It will help with my rent too as Leeds is very expensive. It will make life a lot easier.
“My family didn’t know what to say, they couldn’t believe it. I feel really proud of myself.
“It feels like I’ve had a chance in a million, and I feel really appreciated and supported by my school and my family.”
Nokukhanya was awarded D*D*D* in BTEC Triple Science and will study Pharmacy at Nottingham University.
She said: “I was so happy when I heard about the scholarship. I just couldn’t believe it.
“The funding means I won’t have to find a part time job straight away, so I’ll be able to really focus on my university work. I’m so grateful for this opportunity, it means so much to me.”
Frank Hester OBE, Founder and CEO of TPP, said he was delighted to be able to offer support to Nokukhanya and Estera through the scholarship.
He said: “I firmly believe in equality of opportunity. The debt that can be incurred going to university can be frightening, and sometimes some of the most able students have the least resources.
“Over the last six years we’ve been able to use the scholarship programme to support an amazing set of students overcome the financial barrier to education. I’m proud of what those students have accomplished so far and what they continue to achieve.
“I’m delighted that Nokukhanya and Estera will be following in the footsteps of other scholarship winners from Tong Leadership Academy, and I wish them all the best in their studies.”
Tong Leadership Academy is a secondary school and sixth form for pupils aged 11 – 18 in Bradford. The school joined Star Academies, one of the UK’s leading multi-academy trusts, in December 2016.