TWO Island students with a flair for engineering have been awarded scholarships from the Arkwright Trust.

Jersey College for Girls students Abbie Cummins and Cordelia Overland have been awarded an Arkwright Trust Scholarship, which rewards outstanding ability in design and seeks to encourage youngsters towards a career in engineering.

The 16-year-old girls were selected to receive a scholarship after successfully passing the Arkwright aptitude paper demonstrating flair and originality in solving engineering design problems. They subsequently spent a day at Bath University presenting GCSE work to a panel of judges.

Abbie, of Grouville, said: ‘The Arkwright scholarship will enable me to explore many aspects of engineering and architecture, providing many opportunities and experiences through my sponsors.’

Cordelia, of St Saviour, added: ‘The design work we have been involved with since Year 7 helped me to pass the aptitude paper for my scholarship award.’
The girls will be formally presented with their scholarships at a ceremony hosted by The Institute of Engineering and Technology in London on Friday 31 October.

JCG Design and Technology head David Jones said: ‘We are delighted that this year, two students have been recognised and rewarded for their outstanding achievements in Design and Technology. ‘Considering that only 200 scholars are chosen from a field of well over 700 applicants nationally, the award proves the level of talent and skill displayed by both girls.

‘Engineers are practical and innovative people that design develop, make and improve so many things in our everyday lives – architectural projects, aerospace design, electronic products, medical engineering, microcircuits and battleships – engineers make it happen.’

• Picture: Cordelia Overland and Abbie Cummins with their award-winning work – a jewellery cabinet and an outdoor playground puzzle. Picture by Tony Pike (00590611)