Jill Willows scholar: Sam King

Posted 9 January 2019

Sam King, final year BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management student, and recipient of the Jill Willows Scholarship.

“In my late 20s I decided to leave my career as an office manager in a data mining company and follow my passion to work within the environmental sector,” says Sam, now 31, from Stockport, Cheshire.

“I chose to study BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management, as I thought it would provide me with the skill set and opportunities to start off my new career.

“During my time spent at Harper Adams, I have been Chairman of the Conservation Society, worked as a seasonal Assistant Ecologist, been sent on an all-expenses paid trip to China as a cultural ambassador for Harper Adams University and made some great friendships that have been a big part of my positive experience at University,” added Sam, who has spent more than two years of his life travelling around the world “which played a part in me only just getting around to studying as a mature student”.

“Over the past four years of studying at Harper Adams University, I have had my eyes opened to so many different career possibilities that I didn’t even know existed before I started out my studies. It is now my aspiration to work as an ecological consultant up in Edinburgh upon graduation.

“I decided to apply for the Jill Willows Scholarship in my fourth and final year of studies, due to having limited personal funds yet seeking to undertake extracurricular studies to enhance my ecological skill set.

“One example would be a training course that helps professionals work towards their Protected Species Licence and there are several botanical courses that I would like to attend. All require a training fee, so, prior to receiving the Jill Willows Scholarship, undertaking those courses was not a tangible option for me.

“The Scholarship will make a huge difference to my education and to my ability to contribute effectively in future employment. I plan to use the scholarship to pay for several Field Study Council (FSC) and Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) courses.

“I believe that the knowledge and experience I gain through them will go a long way towards bettering my understanding of the countryside and how I can protect and enhance the environment,” says Sam.