14th Annual Westminster International Scholarship Reception — a night to remember!
The 14th Annual Westminster International Scholarship Reception was held on Guy Fawkes night, 5 November, at International Student House (ISH).
As I checked the invitation details —the start time — 6.30pm — the Reception area started to bustle as international students in national dress gathered to meet fellow students and new friends.
What a contrast — it was going to be a colourful and celebratory event on a dank and dark night in London — with the sounds of fireworks zipping and the noise of rush hour honking along the Euston Road.
It was spitting outside — it suddenly became quite burlesque with half sodden raincoats transforming along with a shake of wet umbrellas into costumes.
The lights were dim but suddenly dazzled as we stepped onto a dance floor that looked more for disco and tango than the celebratory commendations of international and home student scholarship winners.
David Shacklady, Director of Student Affairs announced: “You should be proud with over 3,000 applications to this year’s scholarship programme.” The gasps said it all as chuffed students all around beamed from ear to ear.
The guest speaker, Matthew Smith, who spoke on the theme of “old and new” was littered with amusing anecdotes. But the key message was Westminster’s heritage with roots in the social welfare and education of a country that aims to foster talent and investing in the future.
Particular thanks goes to all donors, sponsors, businesses and alumni that give regularly to offer over 200 scholarship from Caribbean islands of St Lucia to the Far East towns of China.
It was a great opportunity to mingle, to say hello and meet students from different backgrounds that share a common bond of determination, hard-work and commitment to learning and development.
A selected number of students received their certificates on stage and excitedly posed for photographs in huddles making new friends across the globe.
It was indeed a night to remember.
