Jean Young continues to support Scotland’s next generation of businesses leaders by funding four Saltire Scholarships taking place this summer. Born in Orkney as Jean Clair Drever, Ms Young now lives in Dallas, Texas but returns to Orkney every year during the summer months. Ms Young first became a Saltire Foundation donor in 2012 and has now funded in total nine Saltire Scholarships.
Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Saltire Scholarship programme places high potential undergraduates in their penultimate year of study from universities across Scotland on paid summer internships with leading organisations around the world. Saltire Scholarships are fully funded through supporters and donors of the Saltire Foundation, a registered Scottish charity which is operated by Entrepreneurial Scotland and exists to find, fuel and spark Scotland’s next generation of business leaders.
This year’s Scholar recipients are, Jay Alexander Clifford from Keith who is studying Computer Science and Artificial intelligence at Heriot-Watt University, Katie White from Ullapool who is studying Marketing at University West of Scotland and Katie-Rose MacDonald from Caithness who is studying Business Management and Finance at University of Abertay. All are currently interning on different projects with Jabil Circuit in St Petersburg, Florida. The fourth intern is Lois Crawford from Arran who is studying Marketing and Human Resource Management at University of Strathclyde and is interning with Silicon Valley Bank in Santa Clara, California.
Ms Young also extends her philanthropy through the Clair Drever Scholarship, providing students from Orkney with a strong connection to the island with financial support to work and live abroad to gain a broader educational experience.
The Saltire Foundation was founded in 2007 by GlobalScots and is the charitable arm of Entrepreneurial Scotland. The Saltire Scholars programme has grown from six Scholars in 2007 to 143 Scholars in 2016 the largest ever co-hort. Students are currently experiencing life changing opportunities in: China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Dubai, Switzerland, USA, Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, England and Scotland.
Jean Young, Saltire Donor, said:
“My scholars have changed my life and I am very proud of them. Their academic achievements are outstanding and I know their Saltire internships will give them the necessary experience to go on and become leaders in their chosen fields. It’s the most rewarding thing I have ever done and I get to fulfil my grandmother’s wish of giving back to the Highlands and Islands.”
Katie-Rose MacDonald, Saltire Scholar, said:
“In the smaller, rural areas of Scotland, opportunities can be limited but thanks to Jean’s support we are gaining life-changing experience across the world through Saltire internships. Jean has been a fantastic mentor to me and the other Saltire Scholars and I have had a truly amazing experience working within a global company in the US.”
Sandy Kennedy, Chief Executive the Saltire Foundation and Entrepreneurial Scotland, said:
“Jean’s ongoing support is invaluable. It is essential to give our students real opportunities and we need the support and goodwill of people like Jean who support us and want to give back to Scotland.
“Saltire Scholarships aim to encourage a global outlook, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, increase marketing and sales capabilities, build confidence and grow networks that empower our young people to become the next generation of business leaders that will in turn grow a more dynamic, vibrant Scottish economy.”
