Computer Science student bags prestigious scholarship

Hatem Kesseir, an A-Levels student at Solihull College, has become the lucky winner of a fully funded degree at BCU thanks to the Millennium Point Charitable Trust Scholarship. In partnership with our Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE), the Millennium Point Charitable Trust funds tuition fees for one undergraduate degree each year, granting the winner access to study a CEBE courses for free.

Currently finishing his A-Levels, Hatem aims to start his Computer Science degree this September and was selected as the eighth winner of the scholarship following an intensive assessment process. The competition wrapped up following a panel interview with Millennium Point CEO, Abbie Vlahakis; Pro Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of the Faculty, Hanifa Shah; and Head of Business Development and Education at Learn By Design, Mike Ridler.

Hatem commented: “My first reaction was a bit of shock, happiness, excitement; I had put a lot of work in, so to get that end result was fantastic – I didn’t think I would ever have the opportunity to go to university.

“My family were really happy when they heard I had won, as they didn’t have that opportunity themselves, so they could live it through me.”

Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point and head judge, added: “When we first met Hatem, it was clear from the very start that he had real passion for his chosen subject. When speaking to him, it was clear that it meant so much and we knew he would be absolutely dedicated to becoming a scholarship winner and the way that he spoke you knew he could be a fantastic ambassador for Millennium Point.

“It was such a lovely experience – once again – to tell someone they had won something so fantastic. It was lovely to see his reaction and that of his family, and that makes the whole experience worthwhile – to see how delighted he was to win, we knew we’d made the right decision. 

“The competition was the strongest it’s ever been. What’s also great to see is the diverse range of subjects which our finalists are looking to study at BCU, from Sound Engineering to Digital Forensics – fantastic proof of the variety of STEM industries and careers that are available.” 

Finalists of the competition don’t go away empty handed either, as they’re invited to participate in developmental workshops that focus on personal and professional development. They also receive a laptop to help them with future studies.

The Millennium Point Charitable Trust has jointly funded eight scholarships in partnership with BCU totalling £87,000, with the competition set to return in 2023.