Student wins £5,000 scholarship

Nest Jenkins, a Cardiff University Law and Welsh (LLB) student, has received the William Salesbury Scholarship for 2017.

This year, the National William Salesbury Fund (Cronfa Genedlaethol William Salesbury) awarded two scholarships worth £5,000 each over three years to Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol students. The purpose of the scholarships is to promote and support Welsh-medium Higher Education.

The Scholarships are named in honour of William Salesbury (c.1507 – c.1584), a noted scholar and the chief translator, in 1567, of the first New Testament into Welsh.

The Fund was established to give Welsh-medium Higher Education advocates the opportunity to contribute financially and support students who are studying 100% of their degree programme in Welsh, sponsored by the Coleg.

Nest, who hails from Lledrod in Ceredigion, said: “It is an honour to receive this highly respected scholarship which is given in memory of a key figure in Welsh history.

“I was aware of William Salesbury’s exceptional history and had heard about the Fund. After a little bit of research I came to understand that I would be eligible for the scholarship given that I was able to undertake my chosen degree entirely through the medium of Welsh. It was too good an opportunity to miss: raise awareness of the extensive Welsh-language provision and receive valuable financial support at the same time. While I am currently keeping my professional options, after graduation, open, I am decided that I will be staying in Wales and working in my mother tongue.”

Dr Dylan Foster Evans, Head of the School of Welsh, responded:

Referencing her experience as a student in the capital city, Nest added: “I’m thrilled to be a part of the capital city buzz and I’m enjoying my studies very much so far. The course is challenging and exciting and the Welsh community here is very welcoming. Although there is much work to do it would be impossible not to spend time socialising with that community – whether it’s through the Welsh Society, the Waun Ddyfal choir or in the family-like atmosphere of Senghennydd Court!”

Cardiff University’s School of Welsh offers a range of scholarships for prospective students including the Creative Minds Scholarships.