A north-east expat has created a £270,000 scholarship programme to help aspirational students realise their dreams.
Dave Cormack lives in America and has 36 years of experience in the software industry.
But although he lives over the pond, Mr Cormack retains a keen interest in the north-east and is major shareholder and a non-executive director of Aberdeen FC.
He even donated £500,000 towards the new £50million Kingsford Stadium.
And yesterday, he showed his commitment to the area once more as he launched the Cormack Family Foundation Scholarships at Aberdeen University.
The scheme will support 12 undergraduates from less affluent backgrounds.
Over the next three years, the scheme will support two students a year through the medicine degree programme, and two students a year through a business degree.
Mr Cormack visited the university’s Foresterhill campus with his wife Fiona and daughter Sarah Cormack-Patton yesterday, and met some of the students the scholarship will assist.
He said: “As natives of Aberdeen, and with a core of our foundation’s mission being to empower children through education, Fiona and I are very happy to help students from widening access backgrounds achieve their goals, and the young people we met today are testament to the talent and ambition that exists here in the north-east.
“We look forward to seeing their progress through their time at Aberdeen University, and wish them much success in the months and years ahead.”
Medical student Seb Siegrist, 20, from Keith, is one of the recipients of the scholarship.
He said: “It was a huge relief when I found out I had been chosen for the scholarship.
“This will allow me to study effectively, without too much worrying about money.
“Medicine is certainly an incredibly demanding course and eats up a great deal of your time, so trying to balance that with working a job really was daunting.
“But I’ll now be able to focus on my ambitions to work in acute medicine, and come out of university with the best degree possible.”
Diana Tuc, a fellow first year medical student, said: “I feel truly privileged to have been chosen to receive this scholarship, and to know that I am supported in my journey to becoming a doctor.”
