Two North East students have been awarded £10,000 to support them in their final year at university.

Primary Education students at the University of Sunderlad Lauren Coxon and Millie Herron have won this year’s ‘Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award'.

The late Sir Tom Cowie was a Wearside-born champion of education who was a long-term supporter of the university. He believed that talented individuals should have access to further education regardless of their background.

He passed away in 2012 aged 89 and an award was created in his legacy with the purpose of giving financial support to talented students.

The Northern Echo: Scholars Millie Herron and Lauren Coxon are pictured with David Gray FRICS, Chairman of Trustees of

Lauren hopes to become a primary school teacher of students with special educational needs and disabilities. She currently works as a Teaching Assistant in specials needs schools alongside her studies.

The 20-year-old is also a carer for a young girl with Batten Disease, a terminal neurological disease.

Lauren said: “I applied for the scholarship as I am keen to take up various courses such as Makaton, a language used to communicate through speech, signs, and symbols which supports people with disabilities and learning disabilities so they can communicate, and paediatric first aid.

“I also want to be able to focus on my final year of studies and not worry about how I can support myself financially.”

The Northern Echo: Lauren hopes to become a primary school teacher of students with special educational needs and disabilitiesLauren hopes to become a primary school teacher of students with special educational needs and disabilities (Image: UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND)

Fellow award-winning student, Millie Herron, also hopes to support vulnerable primary school students.

Millie, 22, said: “I am planning on staying and working within the local area once I graduate, so it is great being able to gain experience working in local schools during my placement time at the University.

“After I graduate I want to complete a Forest School training course which will allow me to be fully qualified to lead forest school sessions within schools and promote the benefits of outdoor learning around other schools.”

The Northern Echo: Milliw wants to stay in the North East once she graduatesMilliw wants to stay in the North East once she graduates (Image: UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND)

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Chairman of Trustees of The Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust, David Gray FRICS, said “Sir Tom would have been absolutely delighted to see the Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award develop into what is now its 14th year.”

The Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award is now open to applications from full-time undergraduates at the University of Sunderland studying either Arts, Business, Education or Engineering programmes, who are at the end of their penultimate year (second year for standard programmes or third year for four year programmes) of their studies. You must be from the City of Sunderland in order to apply.

For more details on the Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award, a full list of eligible courses, and how to apply go to The Sir Tom Cowie Sunderland Award. Applications close on Friday, May 24.