Second round of recipients for the Gareth Pierce Bursary announced
Three promising Welsh students have been awarded a second round of bursaries as part of our Gareth Pierce Bursary Scheme.
Efa Maher and Steffan Môn from Cardiff University and Elen Davies from Aberystwyth University, are the three students who will receive a bursary of £3,000 each in memory of our former Chief Executive, Gareth Pierce.
Commenting on the students achievement is Ian Morgan, WJEC Chief Executive: "On behalf of WJEC I would like to congratulate Efa, Elen and Steffan, the second group to receive the prestigious Gareth Pierce bursary. The popularity of Gareth's bursary continues to grow and reflects his passion for Maths and learning through the medium of Welsh.
‘Good luck to the students with their studies, and I hope the bursary means they can thrive in their respective courses."
The bursary scheme was launched in 2022 and aims to support undergraduate students studying Mathematics through the medium of Welsh. The bursary scheme supports 3 students annually and is administered through the kind support of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
The recipients
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Efa Maher from Newport is passionate about the Welsh language and is delighted to be able to study a third of her 'Mathematics, Operational Research and Statistics' course through the medium of Welsh at Cardiff University. She said: "Studying through the medium of Welsh is incredibly important to me, not only in preserving and maintaining my linguistic skills, but also in terms of my identity. Maths, as a subject offers wide career possibilities, so building terminology in both languages, will be useful when I work in the field in the future. I am very grateful to WJEC and the Coleg Cymraeg for this bursary." |
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Steffan Môn, 28, from Cardiff, became interested in Mathematics as an adult after watching YouTube videos and reading books on the subject in his spare time. Steffan commented: "I was afraid of Maths at school, but in recent years I re-visited the subject and realised how much I love it. I gained my A level in Maths through the Open University last year, and I’m now studying Maths at university. Following my degree I hope to go on to study a doctorate to become a Welsh-medium Mathematics lecturer in the future. I hope my story helps others to demonstrate not everyone shows aptitude in a subject at school, or is ready for university straight after school. There are no boundaries or timetable to education, it's a lifelong act. I'm very grateful to WJEC and the Coleg Cymraeg for the bursary." |
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Elen Davies from Neath was delighted to hear that she had won the bursary, and is grateful to her teacher at primary school, Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera, for developing her interest in Mathematics. Talking about her studies and the bursary, Elen said: "My interest in Maths started at a very young age thanks to the enthusiasm and creativity of my teacher who treated the subject like artwork. It is a privilege to study Maths at university and to receive Gareth Pierce's bursary. I love the course, and look forward to working as a Maths teacher in the future." |
Make an application
As part of the scheme, 3 bursaries of £3,000 per year are given to each student who is studying Mathematics through the medium of Welsh and are also eligible for a means tested student loan. As the funds they receive are a grant, this is non-repayable, reducing the financial burden on students. The scheme runs annually, and applications can be made from the Spring term.
Further details on how the scheme will work is available via the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
Further Information / Media Enquiries:
Jonathan Thomas
PR and Brand Manager
jonathan.thomas@wjec.co.uk
029 2026 5102