Abertay University nursing student Kathryn Crandall has been presented with a prestigious scholarship award offered by the UK’s leading charity for nurses.

Kathryn, 24, was selected from hundreds of hopefuls from around the UK who applied for the recently-launched Cavell Nurses’ Trust Scholarship Awards.

She won joint first prize in the Outstanding Academic Achievement category and will receive up to £1,500 to fund expenses incurred on tailor-made work placements.

Kathryn, who is in the fourth year of her BSc (Hons) Nursing degree, said: “I was delighted and surprised to hear that I had won. The scholarship prize will enable me to fund travel to a leading research centre in the States where I can further my research into exercise and cancer.”

The awards were attended by leaders from the world of nursing: Dame Christine Beasley, DBE, Chief Nursing Officer; Jane Cummings, Chief Nurse for NHS North of England, who takes over as Chief Nursing Officer later this year; Professor Lesley Page, President and board member of the Royal College of Midwives and Professor Dame Elizabeth Fradd DBE, a leading independent health service adviser.

Also present were members of Edith Cavell’s family and Diana Souhami, the author of a new Edith Cavell biography.

The evening included a presentation about the work of Cavell Nurses’ Trust plus first hand accounts from two nurses supported by the Trust last year.

Guests to the event were welcomed by Simon Knighton, the new Chairman of Cavell Nurses’ Trust and Kate Tompkins, Acting Chief Executive.

Kate said: “As a nurse I was delighted that we were joined at the award ceremony by many of our nursing and midwifery leaders from across the UK who helped our award winners to celebrate their fantastic achievements.

This award scheme, which has been supported by The Eranda Foundation and GlaxoSmithKline, is recognised as a platform to showcase the hardworking, motivated, innovative students who embrace the nursing and midwifery as a career and go the extra mile.

Cavell Nurses’ Trust wants student nurses and midwives embarking on their careers to know that we are there for them whenever they may need us in the future.”

Pic caption: Dame Christine Beasley, DBE, Chief Nursing Officer, presented Outstanding Student Academic Awards to joint winners, Kathryn Crandall (left) and Rebecca Scott (right).