Shannon
scores hole in
one with Ryder
Cup bursary
S
HANNON OVENS, an Events
Management student, is one of five
QMU students this year to receive
an award of financial support from the
2014 Ryder Cup.
Shannon, aged 20 from West Lothian, was
delighted to be awarded a £1000 bursary
from the Ryder Cup Europe.
Ryder Cup Europe made a commitment
to QMU to fund five tourism, hospitality and
event student bursaries per year for a total
of four years. The bursary scheme, now in its
third year of distribution, means that a total of
twenty QMU students will benefit by receiving
£1000 each.
Shannon was delighted to win the financial
support from the Ryder Cup which is being
used to help finance her daily travel from her
home in West Lothian to the University.
She said: “I based my application for the
award on an event that I worked on with the
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation
(SCVO). I volunteered to assist with the event
management of ‘The Gathering’ – SCVO’s
showcase charity event in Glasgow, which
was held in 2015 and attracted over 3000
people. It allowed me to gain hands-on work
experience in event management and helped
confirm that I really did want to pursue a
career in the events industry.”
Shannon continued: “This bursary will really
help to alleviate the financial burden of student
life. Before receiving The Ryder Cup Bursary,
I juggled studying at QMU with working four
days in a restaurant. I have now been able
to reduce my restaurant work to two days
which is allowing me more time to focus on
my studies.
“It’s important that I get the best marks I can
during my 2nd year on the BA (Hons) Events
Management”, said Shannon. “My aim is to
study abroad during my third year, but I need
top marks in order to do that.”
Professor Joe Goldblatt, said: “The 2014
Ryder Cup has created lasting benefits
across Scotland and the bursary scheme is
an important element of its education legacy.
We are delighted that QMU students are
benefitting in this way. The financial benefits
associated with this scholarship help students
concentrate on their studies and reduce
stress during the learner journey.” ❒
QMYOU / Sustainable Business
11