Nelson Scholar offered ESU exchange scholarship

We are delighted that Nelson Scholar Lucia G has been offered the unique opportunity to study abroad on the English-Speaking Union’s Secondary School exchange programme. Lucia will be travelling to Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania to focus on photography and art, utilising their fantastic facilities to further explore her passions.

The English-Speaking Union is an organisation that works with young people and their teachers to improve oracy skills and cross-cultural understanding, particularly in areas of disadvantage. Their core value and belief that ‘effective communication between nations will lead to improved global understanding’ is reflected through their mission to provide opportunities in the fields of speech and debate as well as pupil exchange programmes.

The Secondary School exchange programme is a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience that offers British students the chance to spend a gap year in America where they can immerse themselves in an exciting new culture. The scholarship offers full board to the selected pupils and offers a positive life experience that is often a differentiating factor in university and job interviews. Alumni include singer-songwriter and musician KT Tunstall and comedian Dawn French.

Lucia described the process to be selected as “rigorous” but is now looking forward to using the “phenomenal facilities” at Mercersburg Academy and “experience the new culture and lifestyle.”

We congratulate Lucia on this achievement and wish her safe travels to America!