Scholarships should help OEs bridge the gap

Two former QE students have been awarded prestigious engineering scholarships, which offer not only a cash prize, but also mentoring and work experience opportunities.

Michael Zhao and Aniruddh Raghu (OEs 2007 – 2014) were amongst a select group offered Diamond Jubilee Scholarships by the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The award, which is in its second year, is only offered to students who have achieved at least three A grades at A Level, or the Scottish or International Baccalaureate equivalent grades. Michael and Aniruddh have also been accepted on an IET-accredited engineering or technology degree course. Michael has also received an iMechE undergraduate scholarship.

Both are now studying Engineering at Cambridge University: Michael at Downing College and Aniruddh at Trinity.  Michael was awarded an IET Great Exhibition Scholarship, which is supported by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. Aniruddh won an IET Diamond Jubilee Scholarship. They received their awards at a special ceremony held on board HMS Wellington.

The scholarships offers at least £1,000 per annum for the duration of a degree course, alongside a mentorship programme and work experience placements through the IET’s network of more than 160,000 members, operating in 127 countries.

Michael paid tribute to the Headmaster, Neil Enright, and to his Maths teacher at QE, Wendy Fung: “I’m very appreciative of their assistance for me to secure this award. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Cambridge so far; in our first week we built a robot using the Lego Mindstorms kit and since then we’ve built and tested a bridge structure from scratch. Basically it’s great fun and work is what you make of it.”

“I’m delighted with the award,” said Aniruddh, who learned about the scholarship through the School. “It will enable me to subscribe to research journals and purchase relevant books and resources to supplement my learning. In the longer term I think it will undoubtedly help my career in terms of potential employment opportunities.”

Aniruddh said he is drawn to engineering because it involves the creative application of science, coupled with inventive solutions to real-world problems. “I chose Cambridge because it offers a general engineering course, which is very important, as much industrial work is often interdisciplinary.”

Neither of the Old Elizabethans has definite career plans yet, although Michael says motorsport engineering – including Formula 1 – interests him.