Nasir Ismael, a Year 13 student at Bishop Challoner Sixth Form, has been offered a full scholarship to Princeton University. Nasir is one of 62 students who have won scholarships to US universities via the Sutton Trust US Programme run in conjunction with the US-UK Fulbright Commission. He will fly to New Jersey to start his studies at the end of August. Princeton is an Ivy League university and the forth oldest university in the United States.
Nasir, who lives in Millwall, joined Bishop Challoner in Year 7 and has always had a strong interest in community service. Alongside his studies, over the years he has spent a large part of his time volunteering and fundraising for the worst off in his local community whilst also tutoring at community centres and at school. This year he sat A Levels in Biology, Spanish and Maths and an EPQ on poverty in Tower Hamlets, using experience gained during volunteering. He is excited about studying in the US as he has the freedom of an open and liberal arts curriculum where he can study a broad range of subjects. He is a first generation university student and will be the first of his family to go to university abroad.
Nasir Says: “Living in Tower Hamlets, having the opportunity to apply to one of the top universities in the world is rare enough but to have been given a scholarship to attend Princeton University is something that I never thought would happen. I know that if it weren't for the amazing support and guidance provided by Bishop Challoner and the Sutton Trust US-UK Fulbright Commission I would not be in this position."
Helen Livermore, joint Head of Bishop Challoner Sixth Form says: “We are incredibly proud of all that Nasir has achieved during his 7 years at Bishop Challoner. And a full scholarship to Princeton is an incredible achievement and one that is so well deserved. His altruism, intellect, kindness and humility are a real inspiration to all of our community.”
The US Programme is aimed at encouraging academically talented students from low and moderate income backgrounds in the UK to consider applying to study abroad in America. The Sutton Trust also runs a programme in the UK for American students in a similar position. The US-UK Fulbright Commission was established in 1948 with the intention of nurturing cultural understanding between the two nations via educational exchanges.
