Two students from Nottingham Trent University have been awarded a prestigious scholarship to carry out research for six weeks in the US.
Graduate Miles Waghorn has been allowed to travel to America and carry out research as part of the Nottingham Roosevelt Memorial Travelling Scholarship.
Miles graduated from the university in 2015 and will be researching the relationship between ageing and technology in American society.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to the adventure, and I can’t wait to see what I can learn from the US to improve my business.”
Miles runs TechSilver, an e-commerce company which sells technology and provides gadget advice to older people.
He also recently set up a music events company from The Hive, and writes a weekly column in The Lady – Britain’s longest running women’s weekly.
Miles also runs a drum and bass night in Nottingham called Square One, which held the city’s first ever drum and bass rooftop party last month.
He said: “My plan is to meet with digital skills charities and Silicon Valley start-ups to gain advice on how to grow TechSilver and my new venture Square One.
“I’m the fourth person from The Hive to be selected for the scholarship, which shows how popular the US is for young businesses.
“This will be a great opportunity to build Nottingham’s profile, make business contacts and immerse myself in the US culture.”
Angelena Efstathiou, also involved in the scholarship, is a postgraduate at the university and studies MSc Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation at the Brackenhurst Capmus.
She will research how to increase community and youth engagement with wildlife and will try to understand species re-introduction programs and continue her research into bat conservation.
Angelena said: “My passion is nature and wildlife and the US has some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me to learn more about conservation in the US and find out how to increase youth engagement with nature.
“During my trip I will meet with wildlife organisations and leading universities to gather information that I hope will benefit Nottinghamshire’s wildlife and people, and encourage them to become more involved with environment protection.”
The scholarship was set up in 1946 by Nottingham Lord Mayor Francis Carney to honour former President Roosevelt, and has since seen over 150 young people from Nottinghamshire visit the country.
Russ Blenkinsop, secretary and 1983 scholar from the Roosevelt Scholarship, said: “Miles and Angelena’s project stood out from the other applicants and along with another of this year’s scholars – Gareth Morgan – we are confident they will all benefit Nottinghamshire in their own way.
“The scholarship is a unique and life changing experience and we wish them all the best in their adventures.”
Gareth is aiming to improve literacy and reading of children and also works part time at the Nottingham Playhouse.
The three scholars will be posting updates of their travels on the Roosevelt Scholarship website.
