Scholars gather to celebrate the legacy of a great north-east entrepreneur

Published on 23, October, 2024

Alumni and current students, all connected by the legacy of a great north-east entrepreneur, gathered at the University this week for the twelfth annual Sir Tom Cowie Scholars dinner.

Many of the twenty-three Sir Tom Cowie Scholars, and this year’s Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award winners Primary Education student Amanda Brannen and Fashion Design and Promotion student Kurt Dobinson, joined the Vice-Chancellor Sir David Bell, Lady Cowie and David Gray, Chairman of Trustees of The Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust, to celebrate at City Campus.

The award was established in memory of the Wearside-born entrepreneur who died in 2012, aged 89.

Sir Tom Cowie was a long-term supporter of the University and passionately believed in its principles of affording those with talent, regardless of background, the opportunity to enter higher education.

As part of his legacy, the Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award was established to support students in achieving their full potential.

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Over £300,000 has been awarded to Sunderland students since the awards were established in 2012. 

This year’s awards are now open to applications from full-time undergraduates at the University of Sunderland studying either Arts, Business, Education or Engineering programmes, who are at the end of their penultimate year (second year for standard programmes or third year for four-year programmes) of their studies. You must be from the City of Sunderland in order to apply. 

Successful candidates will receive up to £12,500. 
 
For more details on the Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award, a full list of eligible courses, and how to apply, click here.