Impact Magazine 3
Philip Soar Scholarship
Phil Soar is a Keele graduate ( History & Sociology and Social Anthropology , 1969 ) and a member of the College of Fellows at Keele University .
Beyond Keele , Phil is a respected and successful author , publisher and businessman . He has set up these scholarships to provide students from a similar background to himself the opportunity to access the vital funding they need to support their higher education experience at Keele , just as he enjoyed .
22 £ 1,500 33
Students currently supported per year of degree
Students funded to date
Stewart McLaughlin Scholarship
Alumnus Andy McLaughlin ( Business and Finance , Class of 2003 ), current Managing Director of MIS Group , an IT company based in Cheshire , recently returned to Keele University to announce a new scholarship programme for paramedic students .
Reflecting on his positive university experience , Andy emphasised the importance of support systems in the form of family , friends , and mentors . This support enabled him , and his brother Chris , to eventually take over their father ’ s IT company . Now , to pay that support forward , the MIS Group has established the Stewart McLaughlin Scholarship to honour their father .
The new scholarship will cover accommodation costs for one year for a paramedic student , easing the financial burden for a promising student .
“ We are thrilled to unveil this scholarship programme in support of aspiring paramedics ,” remarked Andy . “ Paramedics hold an indispensable position within our communities , and we are committed to assisting individuals in realising their career aspirations .”
Beyond scholarships , he discussed how the MIS Group will be investigating future work placements and fulltime hires after graduation for Keele
University students . “ The MIS Group remains dedicated to building a bond with Keele University through recruitment pipelines , scholarship initiatives for students and potentially some joint innovation projects . We hope this becomes a long-standing relationship .”
The recipient of the award , Ruaraidh Collar , had this to say : “ Having been awarded the Stewart McLaughlin scholarship means a great deal to me . The award will make a significant difference to my life at Keele and in turn what I am able to offer to others . As students studying in the School of Medicine , Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , we are faced with additional costs such as placement accommodation and transport . The scholarship will lift the worry of these additional costs and allow me to better engage with the course as a result . I am tremendously grateful to Stewart , the MIS group , Keele University and the panel who judged my application . I am looking forward to meeting Andy , Chris and Stewart McLaughlin to consider what the scholarship means to the MIS group and Keele University . Furthermore , I hope that the scholarship can be offered to others in future years .”
Director of Paramedic Science , Kevin Armstrong , said , “ A great big thank you to the MIS group ’ s generous offer to one lucky student as they start on their pathway to becoming a paramedic .”
Chris ( L ) and Andy ( R ) McLaughlin