St Andrews New York Gala Benefit boost for scholarships
A celebration of the 600th Anniversary of the University of St Andrews attended by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in New York City last night (9 December) raised a record breaking sum for student scholarships, medicine, science and sport at the ancient Scottish university.
Over 450 guests attending the university’s Gala Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art helped raise over $3.4 million or £2.2 million.
It’s been hailed as a major boost in St Andrews’ efforts to provide financial aid to students who might otherwise be unable to attend university.
The Duke of Cambridge – who is Patron of St Andrews’ 600th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign – thanked fellow alumni, parents and friends for their overwhelming support of their university at a crossroads in its history.
“It goes without saying to all of you in this room that the education we received there was first class,” he told guests.
“Louise [University Principal Professor Louise Richardson], you may need to close your ears at this point but it’s often said by the undergraduates of St Andrews that you leave the university in either one of two states: either married or an alcoholic.
“Fortunately for Catherine and me we ended up married. But for those of you who are parents of undergraduates right now, I give you one tip: ask your son or daughter over the holidays if they know what Ma Bells is. If they answer yes, perhaps remove their wine glass out of reach.
“St Andrews’ blend of academic excellence, mixed with a liberal approach to critical thought and creative reasoning, is one that both our nations, on both sides of the Atlantic, credit with importance.
“In particular, St Andrews exists at the pinnacle of a noble Scottish tradition of intellectual freedom and the nurturing – in fact, I would say, flourishing – of arts and science. It feels like a place where no truth goes unquestioned and where there is much more discovering to be done in the world.
“I imagine that this sense of the unchartered planet, of upturning old truth, resonates particularly strongly here in the New World. It’s extraordinary, when you come to think about it, how a 600 year old institution can do this.
“By joining us here this evening, you are supporting not only a remarkable, independent institution steeped in history, but you are doing something far more important but which may not seem so obvious. You are also helping to fight cancer, to overcome heart disease, to eradicate famine, to understand violence and to seek ways to bring about peace.
“You are helping to see deeper into space, to understand why humans act the way they do, to unfold the beauty of language and literature, to explore history and to conserve the wildlife in our oceans and habitats. And you just thought you were coming for dinner.
“I hope you are all very proud of your support and of your links to St Andrews. Throughout its long history, St Andrews has been blessed with the support of loyal graduates, friends and supporters. It falls to us, now, to continue that proud tradition.”
Despite being 600 years old, St Andrews has a tiny endowment and has embarked on an ambitious international fundraising drive to raise £100 million. Over £13 million is being sought to support bright students who would otherwise be unable to attend university. The Campaign has already raised over £52 million, £7 million of which has already been invested in scholarships.
The University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson said:
“We need this endowment so that future leaders of the University can invest in an unfashionable idea, can recruit brilliant but impecunious students, can retain star researchers, and buy time for promising young scholars.
“We are the third most highly ranked university in the UK, in the top 1% globally, and we have done this on a shoe string. Just imagine what we could do with an endowment.
“Today, we are a unique combination of ancient and modern: with the greenest laboratory in Britain close to one of its oldest chapels. Of local and global: with 45% of our students from outside the UK. We are the ideal size for a university, big enough to be interesting yet small enough to be intimate. Big enough to attract the best academics and most competitive research funding, small enough that the philosophers get to know the physicists; that the students are taught by those who write the books; that we can transform the lives of every student who comes to us.”
The Duke and Duchess are alumni of St Andrews. Both graduated from the university in 2005. They were met on the steps of the Museum last night by a welcoming party of US-based St Andrews alumni wearing traditional red gowns.
The couple attended a brief VIP reception before being piped into dinner to the strains of Scotland the Brave. Dinner took place in The Temple of Dendur where guests were served dishes including Scotch lamb and Aberdeen Angus beef.
Professor Robert Crawford, of the St Andrews School of English, addressed the guests as “Your Royal Highnesses, Principal, Highheidyins, Friends..” before reading a poem entitled “Alma Mater” which he had written specially for the occasion.
US comedian and talk show host Seth Meyers – a late stand-in for actor Tom Hanks who withdrew because of a personal family commitment – proposed the Toast to the University.
The renowned opera singer Renée Fleming sang two songs – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “O Mio Babbino Caro” – at the conclusion of dinner.
As the Royal couple departed the event to catch a commercial flight back to the UK, guests stood and applauded spontaneously. Professor Richardson thanked them for their unfailing support and offered a gift – a miniature St Andrews red gown for Prince George.
After the departure of the guests of honour, a live auction was held, generously supported by friends of the University and many of its graduates and honorary graduates.
Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ann Gloag and Ian Rankin are among those to have donated lots to the auction.
ENDS
Notes to Picture Editors
Images from the event are available from the Press Office – contacts below.
Notes to Editors
About St Andrews
Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world. Teaching began in the community of St Andrews on the east coast of Scotland in 1410 and the University was formally constituted by the issue of Papal Bull in 1413.
The university is now one of Europe’s most research intensive seats of learning – over a quarter of its turnover comes from research grants and contracts. It is one of the top rated universities in Europe for research, teaching quality and student satisfaction and is consistently ranked among the UK’s top five in leading independent league tables produced by The Sunday Times and The Times, The Guardian and The Complete University Guide.
Its international reputation for delivering high quality teaching and research and student satisfaction make it one of the most sought after destinations for prospective students from the UK, Europe and overseas. It is Scotland’s most international university – a third of the student body of 7,800 is from overseas.
It has a staff of 1,800 and maintains one of the strongest records in Europe for teaching quality, good degrees and student support. In the eight years it has entered the UK National Student Survey, St Andrews has consistently ranked among the top 5 universities for student satisfaction. It is currently joint top in the United Kingdom. In 2013 the University received on average 12 applications per place in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Divinity.
Issued by the University of St Andrews
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Category Fundraising