Students talk about how a CLA Scholarship shaped their academic careers

A pair of students at Harper Adams University have spoken with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) about how its scholarships have helped shape their studies.

The University was recently visited by CLA President Victoria Vyvyan – who spoke about the ‘unwavering positivity’ from its students.

Each year, the CLA Charitable Trust (CLACT) supports students studying rural-based degrees with educational bursaries at Harper Adams - and they recently caught up with  Stephen Dale-Sunley and Michael Lewis, currently completing their final year of study at Harper Adams University, to hear more about their hopes for the future.

Stephen, from southern Scotland, is studying BSc (Hons) Rural Enterprise and Land Management while Michael, from Norfolk, is studying BSc (Hons) Agriculture.

Both Stephen – who undertook his placement year at Cundalls, a small firm of rural surveyors specialising in sales, lettings and valuations in Malton, North Yorkshire and Michael, who spent his year with Sentry Farming in South Norfolk, describe the experience warmly in the piece.

Michael said: “This was a fantastic opportunity to put the knowledge I had learnt at Harper into practice, undertaking a wide range of roles and responsibilities within the farming system and engaging with seed potato production.”

And Stephen added: “I enjoyed the valuation and planning work, which allowed me to visit a variety of diversified farms, meeting clients who were working to improve their assets. It was interesting to see the challenges of the planning system, particularly where permitted development was involved making applications much more easily accepted.”

Both also talk about the impact receiving the CLACT Scholarship had on their studies.

“A key achievement for me is without doubt, the CLACT scholarship,” said Stephen. “Having the opportunity to visit the CLA’s head office in London really gave me a sense of the hard work happening behind the scenes.”

Stephen was also awarded the John Hepworth Trust Scholarship for forestry, having written an assignment on agroforestry. He has since planted trees on his family farm to create shelterbelts protecting against the elements at its coastal location.

“The CLACT scholarship has definitely opened doors, enabling us to be invited to events such as its annual Rural Business Conference, as well as other industry events to meet like-minded people,” added Michael.

“Despite not coming from an agricultural background, I am incredibly proud of my accomplishments in my studies and excited about advancing my career in the industry.”

Read the whole piece on the CLA website here and find out more about the Scholars and good causes funded by the CLA Charitable Trust here.