A city welcome for the new Vice Chancellor

FOCUS ON…
The Development
Five years since its launch in 2005, the
SPARK (Securing Potential and Releasing
Knowledge) scholarship programme has gone
from strength to strength.
Julie Bagwash and Valentine Nkoyo
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Office and SPARK
scholarships
Over £50,000 was distributed in 2009-10
to support students from a wide variety of
backgrounds to study academic and professional
programmes across the University. And SPARK
scholars Julie Bagwash and Valentine Nkoyo have
each been named Adult Learner of the Year in
the Yorkshire and the Humber region in the last
two years.
Funds for the SPARK scholarships are administered
by the Development Office, which is now based
in the refurbished Phoenix Building. Brett Arnall,
Development & Alumni Manager, explains,
“SPARK is one of three strands of our work.
The other two concern Belonging – that is, the
student experience at York St John, and Alumni
Relations. I see this as a virtuous circle, with each
element feeding into the other two.”
“We would like to say a big
thank you to all staff who have
supported the SPARK initiative
over the last five years.”
Many of the students who benefit from
SPARK want to give something back to the
University in recognition of the support
they have received. The Development
Office runs a volunteer programme with
15 students now taking part; they are
involved with events’ organisation and
individual and group development projects.
This work experience is proving to be
invaluable on both sides. Included among
the benefits to students are references
from Brett for their contributions, and
he estimates that the voluntary work
undertaken in 2009 is over the value of
£10,000. Last year was the first time that
the Development Office was able to award
international scholarships and many of
these students are heavily involved in the
Office’s work. “They are very keen to get
involved,” explains Brett, “and our projects
benefit greatly from their input and
enthusiasm.”
As well as staff, alumni and governors,
several of the student clubs and societies
are also involved with SPARK fundraising –
students supporting students – and they
contributed over £1,500 in 2009-10.
The highlight of the year was the Student
Variety Show, organised by the Student
Warden team, led by Head Warden Indu
Meddegama, which raised more than
£800. Over 200 students took part in this
showcase of talent and there are already
plans to hold the event again next year.
Indu’s contribution was publicly recognised
when she won the 2010 SPARK Personality
of the Year Award at the Students’ Union
Annual Awards Dinner. The Club/Society
SPARK Award went to The Big Band.
The Development Office benefits greatly
from the continued support and expertise
of John Maw MBE, an alumnus and former
staff member and Honorary Fellow of
York St John. Brett comments, “We have
a fantastic working relationship with
John. He has a real love of this place, and
his enthusiasm is appreciated by today’s
students who hold him in such high regard.
He actively promotes the work of the
Development Office across the campus
as well as through his work with the
Association of the Colleges of Ripon & York
St John. He regularly spends Wednesdays
with us, supporting the student sports’
teams or leading a group around the
Heritage Trail.”
Connecting with alumni and ensuring that
they enjoy a lifelong relationship with the
University is a means of developing new
advocates for York St John throughout
the city, region and further afield. The
Office distributes a regular e-bulletin and
the annual magazine, Alumination, has a
7,000-strong global mailing list.
“We are assessing how alumni can get
more involved with our work on a practical
level,” says Brett, “through mentoring,
volunteering, being advocates for the
University or providing work placements.
We are starting to plan regular reunion
events to bring graduates back to see
what’s happening now and how they can
help today’s students.
“We would like to say a big thank you to
all staff who have supported the SPARK
initiative over the last five years. Your
generosity has made a huge difference,
touching the lives of many students. At
York St John there is a real community
feel to SPARK and it means a lot to us that
colleagues take it upon themselves to
raise funds.”
From 1 January 2011, the Development
Office will become part of Admissions
& Marketing, and its staff members
will be Brett Arnall, Development &
Alumni Manager, and Kate Hutchings,
Development Officer. Brett and Kate
will continue to manage the University’s
alumni relations as well as generate
funds for SPARK.
View the Alumni web pages at
www.yorksj.ac.uk/alumni. Please contact
the team for further information:
T: 6432 or E: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk
Top right: John Maw leads a
group around the Heritage Trail.
Far left: Kate Hutchings and
Brett Arnall
Bottom left: international
scholars with Brett Arnall,
Professor David Maughan Brown
and Kate Hutchings.
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