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Record demand as Scotland’s top student athletes join national scholarship programme

Winning Students 100, Scotland’s national sport scholarship programme, has announced the names of stand-out athletes which will be supported for the coming year, as the scheme hits a record number of applications for the second year running.

The world-leading dual-career programme, which helps student athletes pursue sporting excellence alongside further or higher education, will back 110 outstanding individuals for the 2026-27 term.

With 32 sports and 17 colleges and universities represented, located across the length and breadth of Scotland, from Glasgow to Inverness and Edinburgh to Aberdeen.

The programme has seen a 10% increase in applications over the last two years, with a particular uplift in interest from students competing in sports like cricket, athletics and hockey.

Big names in Scottish sport to be part of the programme include Commonwealth Games double medallist swimmer Angharad Evans, bronze medal winning gymnast Cameron Lynn, decorated long distance runner Megan Keith, and Winter Paralympic medalist, alpine skier Neil Simpson. 

Elsewhere, Scottish hockey players who were part of the team that saw Scotland’s women back at the World Cup for the first time in 24 years, will be backed by the scheme, as well as young curler Logan Carson whose team is about to compete at their first ever Grand Slam contest.

Other exciting new talent joining the programme for the first time include those who made their Commonwealth debuts in Glasgow in August including University of Edinburgh weightlifter Maddie Rosher and City of Glasgow College student and gymnast Ava MacFarlane.

Promising cricketer Ollie Jones joins the programme as one of four cricketers in the scheme this year, while Winning Students 100 also welcomes as cross country mountainbiker of the Open University in Scotland, Freya Mowbray.

Backed by sportscotland and the Scottish Funding Council, Winning Students 100 has supported over 1,800 student athletes since 2008, helping with academic flexibility, tailored support and financial grants of up to £3,000.

The programme aims to help athletes achieve their full potential in education and sport settings and has three priority sports which for 2025-26 are hockey, rowing and swimming. It also runs a hardship fund to promote fairness and equality, helping ensure the best possible support for athletes from areas of high deprivation.

Cathy Gallagher, Chair, Winning Students 100 Advisory Board said: “The Winning Students 100 cohort really represents the brightest young talent in Scotland today. It is a privilege to help develop these extraordinary individuals as they embark on, or progress in, their promising academic and athletic careers.

“It is incredibly heartening to have received such high demand for the programme, breaking records for the second year running. This level of interest in the support shows just how important the programme is to the education and sporting ecosystem in Scotland.

“The breadth of talent represented this year is really exciting and it is with real pride that we back each of these athletes for the coming academic year. We are extremely grateful to our funders and partners who make the programme possible and help us deliver a world-leading initiative which enhances both sport and education in Scotland today.”

University of Stirling student and professional, podium-placing swimmer Katie Shanahan said: “Receiving the Winning Students 100 award is a huge honour and I am so grateful to be part of the programme again. The support will help me to train, compete and perform at my best, while also helping support my studies throughout the academic year.”

Full list of 2026-27 Athletes

Alpine Skiing / Para Alpine Skiing

Neil Simpson - University of Aberdeen

Owen Vinter - University of Stirling

Athletics / Para Athletics

Ben Potrykus - Edinburgh Napier University

Bradley Francis - University of Aberdeen

Megan Keith - University of Edinburgh

Rhian Mitchell - Ayrshire College, Kilmarnock

Ryan Martin - University of Stirling

Sophie Robertson - Glasgow Caledonian University

Badminton / Para Badminton

Adam Pringle - The Open University in Scotland

Andrew Davies - Edinburgh Napier University

Basketball

Alexandra McIntosh - University of Strathclyde

Kerry McGhee - University of Strathclyde

Boccia

Alex Medley - University of Stirling

Boxing

Isabella Fioretti - University of the Highlands and Islands

Oscar Steele - University of Edinburgh

Canoeing / Para Canoe

Kristina Armstrong - University of St Andrews

Cricket

Maisie Maceira - University of Stirling

Nayma Sheikh - Glasgow Caledonian University

Ollie Jones - University of Stirling

Owen Gould - University of Edinburgh

Curling / Wheelchair Curling

Amy Mitchell - University of Stirling

Charlie Gibb - University of Stirling

Ethan Brewster - Robert Gordon University

Holly Burke - The Open University in Scotland

Kirsty Gallacher - University of the West of Scotland

Logan Carson - University of Stirling

Tia Laurie - University of Stirling

Cycling / Para Cycling

Arabella Blackburn - The Open University in Scotland

Freya Mowbray - The Open University in Scotland

Harrison Bell - University of Strathclyde

Mark Stewart - University of Strathclyde

Diving

Clara Kerr - University of Edinburgh

Noah Penman - University of Edinburgh

Fencing / Wheelchair Fencing

Callum Penman - Heriot-Watt University

David Kelly - Heriot-Watt University

Zoe Wagstaff - University of Edinburgh

Freestyle Skiing

Olivia Burke - University of Aberdeen

Golf

Abercrombie Nisbet - University of Stirling

Eleanor Monk - University of St Andrews

Erin Huskie - University of Stirling

George Cannon - University of Stirling

Grace Bowen - University of Stirling

Ross Laird - University of Stirling

Gymnastics (Artistic, Rhythmic or Trampoline)

Ava Macfarlane - City of Glasgow College

Cameron Lynn - University of Stirling

Crystelle Lake - University of Stirling

Sarah Gallacher - University of Glasgow

Hockey

Alastair Douglas - Robert Gordon University

Andrew McAllister - University of Strathclyde

Bronwyn Shields - University of Stirling

Calum Douglas - The Open University in Scotland

Caterina Nelli - University of Edinburgh

Connie Roxburgh - University of Edinburgh

Jamie Green - Heriot-Watt University

Tommy Austin - The Open University in Scotland

Zara Kennedy - University of Edinburgh

Ice Hockey / Para Ice Hockey

Emma Lamberton - University of Strathclyde

Ruby Newlands - University of the West of Scotland

Judo / Para Judo

Eva Ewing - Abertay University

Kirsten Taylor - Perth College UHI

Murray McConnell - University of Stirling

Sophie Wood - Edinburgh Napier University

Sunny Doig - Heriot-Watt University

Lacrosse

Emily Hook - University of Edinburgh

Netball

Alexia Gillies - University of Strathclyde

Erin Bolland - University of the West of Scotland

Jazmine Moore - University of Glasgow

Rowing / Para Rowing

Ava Thurnham - University of Edinburgh

Freddy Foxwell - University of Edinburgh

Harris Bisset - University of St Andrews

Henriette Smit - University of Edinburgh

Isla Wilding - University of Edinburgh

Jemima Aspinall - University of Aberdeen

Katie Robertson - University of Edinburgh

Laura McKenzie - University of Glasgow

Maisie Aspinall - University of Aberdeen

Penny Irvine - University of Edinburgh

Scott MacCallum - University of Strathclyde

Rugby Sevens

Ben Salmon - University of Glasgow

Mitchell Newell - University of Strathclyde

Nicole Flynn - University of Edinburgh

Shooting / Para Shooting

Fraya Allen - University of Edinburgh

Isobel Mactaggart - University of Stirling

Kirsty Scott - University of Aberdeen

Skateboarding

Daisy Buchanan - University of Stirling

Sport Climbing

Ava Hamilton - University of Edinburgh

Squash

Robyn McAlpine - Heriot-Watt University

Swimming / Para Swimming

Angharad Evans - University of Stirling

Anna Morgan - University of Edinburgh

David Annis - University of Stirling

Dean Fearn - University of Stirling

Evie Davis - University of Stirling

Faye Roger - University of Edinburgh

Grace Davison - University of Stirling

Grace Harvey - University of Aberdeen

Holly McGill - University of Stirling

Jensen Norris - University of Stirling

Katie Shanahan - University of Stirling

Lucy Grieve - The Open University in Scotland

Samuel Downie - University of Stirling

Stefan Krawiec - Edinburgh Napier University

Toni Shaw - University of Stirling

Triathlon / Para Triathlon

Alex Robin - University of Stirling

Millicent Breese - University of Stirling

Tristan Robin - University of Stirling

Volleyball or Beach Volleyball

Isla Wilkie - Heriot-Watt University

Water Polo

Murray Dickson - University of Edinburgh

Weightlifting

Maddie Rosher - University of Edinburgh

Wheelchair Basketball

Shayne Humphries - University of Stirling

Owen Shannon - City of Glasgow College