The Snowdon Trust Scholarship

The Snowdon Trust have partnered with the University of Exeter and funded a full MSc Scholarship to support a student with a physical or sensory impairment.

The inaugural Exeter Snowdon scholar, Kathryn Jordan commenced her MSc in Paediatric Exercise and Heath in September 2018. Kathryn suffers from Brittle Asthma a condition that severely affects her everyday life with frequent hospital admissions and the constant threat of an attack that could take her life. However Kathryn does not let her condition hold her back and is a firm believer that your health does not define you. It is this belief that has led her to study Paediatric Exercise and Health and, as a teacher of PE and dance, she is passionate about inspiring the next generation to believe that a health condition or physical impairment should not prevent their participation in sport.

Kathryn said: “To be able to teach students knowing that I am influencing their health in a positive way and share with them the tools that they can use to lead their own lives successfully - with or without illness - is a great pleasure. The children I teach will be the ones who benefit the most from my time studying this course, because it will enable me to be the best teacher I can be to those who deserve exactly that. I would not be studying the MSc had I not received this scholarship. Having a chronic illness robs you of a lot; including opportunities and independence. I didn't expect anyone to put their faith in me and want to support me in developing my career, despite my own physical challenges, yet they have. I am often reminded of a quote by Desmond Tutu - "When your dreams turn to dust, hoover". During the past 5 years I have found that your health can force you into doing a fair old amount of "hoovering" - but it can't stop you carrying around a paintbrush to "redecorate" as well!”