Case Study: Scholarship Recipient: Teigs
When Teigs Elliot-Henderson was a child, her grandfather gifted her a book by famed American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. At just seven years old, she was captivated.
Teigs is in her 2nd year at Heriot-Watt University, studying Environmental Science. She also currently serves as Class Representative and competes on the Women’s Fencing team. When speaking to her, her passion for science and learning is evident and energising. Her dedication has helped guide her path on a journey that has had its challenges…
As a kid, I looked up to intelligent, smart characters – like Hermione Granger [from the Harry Potter series]. Then, in high school, I had this amazing chemistry teacher who had a doctorate degree. That’s when I knew what I wanted to be: I wanted to be a scientist.
The summer before Teigs was set to start university, her family experienced an unexpected disaster. The money she had saved for university, along with family mementos had been lost in a house fire. Understandably devastated and panicked, Teigs was unsure of what to do. As the first in her family to attend university, she was already in uncharted territory.
With her family and teachers’ encouragement, she decided to stay the course. That autumn, Teigs began at St. Andrews University. She picked up a part-time job alongside her studies. She liked her co-workers at the coffee shop, but found splitting the time between studying and working tricky. She recalled, on more than one occasion, doing integrations behind the counter and in between making lattes.
After a few months at St. Andrews, Teigs had begun to feel the strain. She had also started to feel that biology, which was her subject at the time, wasn’t quite the right fit. The realisation led her to transfer to Heriot-Watt University to study chemistry.
Joining Heriot-Watt University allowed Teigs to pursue her passion and, upon being awarded the Allan MacAskill Scholarship, the opportunity to concentrate on her studies. “I no longer needed to work long shifts and could just focus on studying. I got involved with the university community more too.”
Along with the scholarship came a summer internship with Flotation Energy, an offshore wind turbine company. The scholarship and internship are provided by Flotation Energy’s CEO and Heriot-Watt University alumnus, Allan MacAskill. Teigs adored her time interning with the organisation, and said that it has influenced her future career plans; she is now considering work in the sustainable energy sector. “I want to positively impact the planet in whatever career I join. I’m very excited for the future and can’t wait to use the experiences I’ve gained.”
Teigs is grateful to her family and teachers who encouraged and supported her journey to attend University; and to the donors who’ve helped her to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a scientist. “A BIG thank you to everyone who supports the university. I know first-hand how much impact it makes. It means the world to me to attend university, and to do so without such a big weight on my shoulders.”