Celebrating excellence: Cranfield’s first Student Funding Team Celebration Event

On Wednesday 21 January, the Cranfield Student Association (CSA) played host to a significant occasion: our first-ever Student Funding scholarship celebration.

Hosted by Diane Blything (Assistant Registrar) and Gill Ireland (Student Funding Adviser), the event brought together talented scholarship awardees and university leadership to recognise the incredible achievements of students funded through prestigious schemes such as Chevening, Commonwealth, and British Council Women in STEM.

A warm welcome to our scholarship awardees

The afternoon commenced with an opening address from Professor Dame Helen Atkinson, Deputy Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The atmosphere was one of shared pride as staff and students gathered to celebrate the diverse academic community at Cranfield.

Professor Sean Tyrrel, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education, led the recognition ceremony. Having played a significant role in many scholarship journeys by chairing selection panels, Professor Tyrrel personally acknowledged the scholarship winners, inviting them to be recognised by their peers and mentors.

“I was truly honoured to be invited to the warm networking event hosted by the Cranfield Student Funding Team on 21 January 2026. It was a meaningful opportunity to connect, reflect, and celebrate together with my wonderful peers as well as the dedicated and incredibly supportive Cranfield staff.”- Khue Khu, Air Transport Management MSc (2025-2026), GREAT Scholarship awardee

The event celebrated 40 students, representing the bright future of their respective fields. These scholarship winners have worked incredibly hard to secure their funding, and this ceremony provided a dedicated space to honour their dedication and potential.

Following a brief presentation ceremony, the event transitioned into a vibrant networking session. This provided a unique opportunity for scholarship winners to connect with colleagues from across the University, each of whom has contributed to scholarship activity and was keen to celebrate their achievements.

With refreshments flowing, it allowed students and staff to share experiences and build new connections. To conclude the celebration, each scholarship winner was presented with a certificate to formally acknowledge their award, a keepsake to mark their success before they returned to their studies.

“It was an honour to host this celebration event, as our scholars are the reason why we do what we do. Their passion and enthusiasm filled the room, a powerful reminder of the bright futures that lie ahead of them. We are deeply grateful to our colleagues, both those present and those supporting from afar, as well as our scholarship partners whose dedication makes these opportunities possible.” -Diane Blything

This opening event formalises our longstanding commitment to supporting and recognising the strength of our scholarship awardees, ensuring they feel valued, connected, and fully integrated into our global community.