Sutton Trust US Programme Participants admitted Early Decision to US universities in 2018-19 Bolutito Adesanya - Columbia University London (St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School) Tito is a Londoner at heart, and is passionate about improving the lives of others through STEM. He recently initiated a start-up that teaches women and minorities to code, operating in seven countries around the globe. In the same vein, he started a club which helps youngsters build drones and rockets for competitions. He also enters competitions himself and has won awards at the Big Bang and the Intel International Science and Engineering fair in Los Angeles for a wind turbine he built. He has also attended robotics summer schools at Cambridge and UPenn. While a techie, Tito very much enjoys sports. He is the athletics captain in his school, plays for the 1st and 2nd XV rugby and basketball teams, and also does parkour. He is attracted to the US not only to explore the possibility of taking a minor in geopolitics, but also for the culture in which he would be immersed. Ali Ahmed - Claremont McKenna College Manchester, North West England (Parrs Wood High School) Ali Ahmed is a young man who is anything but ordinary. He is a second generation immigrant and will be the first person in his family to attend university. Ali has plans to make a difference to this world. He has already shown evidence of this through his work in helping to organise and performing at the One Love Manchester concert in his home town in order to promote love and tolerance. As the youngest of four siblings, Ali has always had to fight to have his voice heard—this shows through his loud, outspoken personality and his role as Head Boy of his high school. During his free time, Ali loves to do anything but stay at home, whether it be providing food and water for the homeless, or attending protests to challenge inequality. Ali has a passion for singing which he hopes to continue at university and will be double majoring in a science and non-science. Aquib Akhtar - Connecticut College Manchester, North West England (Loreto College) Aquib Akhtar is a charitable computer scientist from Stockport, Greater Manchester. He comes from a large family of eight sisters and one brother. He will be the first in his family to attend university. He dedicates most of his time to tutoring GCSE students and leading STEM classes at his old high school. He also helps with the Northern Manchester charity ‘Console.Code’. His passion for computer science earned him the position of subject ambassador in his college. He enjoys taking part in Model United Nations and has previously represented Latvia (in the middle of a fake Russian invasion). During school breaks, Aquib engages in work experience and has worked for the NHS and CDL. He hopes to study a mixture of computer science and politics, two very different subjects. The opportunity to continue studying both subjects is what first attracted him to US study. Stuart Aldred - University of Rochester Cowdenbeath, Scotland (Beath High School) Stuart Aldred is a student from Beath High School in Cowdenbeath, Scotland. Stuart engages in a number of activities; he is a fundraiser, a senior member of the prefect leadership team at his school, part of a running club, and teaches junior pupils at his school how to play the guitar. He will be the first in his family to attend a US university and hopes to study in the field of STEM as well as economics, something made possible through the liberal arts curriculum. Since he began high school, Stuart has been fascinated by the idea of studying in the US, as he can continue both academic and non academic interests, as well as have the opportunity for research and internships. Stuart is eager, motivated, and keen to explore and pursue his endless interests at a US university. Valentine Bailey-Beckett - Pomona College Bodmin, South West England (Bodmin College) Valentine Bailey-Beckett is a creative and well rounded student, currently studying physics, chemistry, English literature and textiles. Her extra- curriculars are largely concerned with English and textiles, as she spends a large amount of her spare time reading, writing and sewing, including making costumes for school productions and clothes for herself. Her literary accomplishments to date include two poems published in national collections and an article in Young Scientists Journal. Valentine's interest in US undergraduate study began a year ago when a teacher recommended US study to her. The main reason she is interested in the US is the more diverse nature of the curriculum, meaning she would not have to drop any interests upon reaching higher education, and could even continue to broaden them. Samuel Blackman - Harvard College Kettering, Midlands (Kettering Science Academy) Sam Blackman is from Kettering, and is working on a novel in his spare time. He will be the first in his family to attend university. At school he works on various projects, including leading a group of students in launching a high altitude balloon as well as tutoring younger students. Additionally, he hopes to use this work to encourage others in his school to apply to the US, as he is the first student to do so. He is drawn to the flexibility of study in the US, particularly being able to take a variety of classes in a mixture of subjects. Specifically, he looks forward to combining his interests in writing and science, potentially in a double major. Caitlin Burns - Smith College Dundee, Scotland (Harris Academy) Hailing from Northern Ireland, Caitlin, her mother and her cat moved to Scotland when she was four years old. As a current vice-school captain at Harris Academy in Dundee, Caitlin can always be found ranting and raving about maths, biology or bees somewhere within the school. Enthusiastic about the most mundane, she will insist whatever class she has next is absolutely fascinating. While she adores STEM subjects she also has an odd creative streak, attaining academic honours across the arts, humanities and sciences. As a result of this breadth of interest she’s ecstatic to be exploring US education, drawn to the sheer flexibility of study. Out of the classroom, Caitlin is a strong advocate for equality and progression and founded an LGBTQA support group within her high school. She has found being a first generation university student equal parts daunting and thrilling; keen to begin this new chapter in her family’s history. Emma Cairns - Duke University Glasgow, Scotland (The Glasgow Academy) Emma Cairns is an entrepreneur and a science nerd at heart. She is from Glasgow, Scotland and will be the first in her family to attend university. Emma is heavily involved in her school community, as a prefect, leading the technology department of the Young Enterprise team and heading the charity committee. She has a huge interest in technology and its uses in changing the world, and through this has pursued numerous work experience placements in areas such as bioinformatics, ultimately starting her own business in website design and development. As part of this, Emma believes in promoting STEM subjects to the next generation and is actively involved in doing so by acting as a SmartSTEMs Scholar, speaking to large groups of young girls to inspire them to chose an education path and career in STEM. Emma’s interest in US undergraduate study has gone from strength to strength, inspired by the US's interdepartmental approach to education and research, campus lifestyle and the strong roots engineering schools have in biomedical engineering in comparison with other internationally renowned institutions. Benjamin Coles - Princeton University Lincoln, Midlands (The Priory Academy LSST) Ben is a first generation university student and his lived in the City of Lincoln all of his life. Ben has a passion for community service, and, ever since his brother lost his sight in 2008, has worked extensively across the country within the young blind community in order to maintain access to sport and education after sight loss. He loves sport and has competed as a footballer both in and outside of his school whilst enjoying both badminton and cycling. In addition, Ben has become a fully qualified coach in the Paralympic sport of goalball. He hopes to major in maths at university after qualifying and competing in the British Mathematical Olympiad in his time at school. He was attracted to study in the US after discovering how much freedom it gives students and the opportunities it offers them outside of their studies. He hopes to make the most of this by studying economics and philosophy beyond his major and continuing to expand his hobbies and interests outside the classroom. L Culling - Davidson College Norwich, South East England (Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form Free School) L lives with their mother in Wymondham, Norfolk and is the first person in their school to attend university stateside. They are an active member of their sixth form community through their involvement as a student ambassador, providing advice and guidance to year 12s and buddying up with exchange students, and has co-founded a book club in which members discuss and debate key themes freely. Alongside this, L is a member of the student council, helping to fundraise and host annual events. L also contributes to the wider community by volunteering as a Young Leader at the scout group. The scouting community is a huge part of L's life, and it shows through their passions and actions - not only do they enjoy hikes and want to help protect nature, but L is also going to be shaving their hair in support of Macmillan Cancer Support - because they know there are more important things in life than having amazing hair.