At the end of last week, we heard the great news that Year 13 Nikita Saitov has been offered a 100% scholarship to study Computer Science at Yale University, one of the top ranking universities in the United States and indeed the world.
On congratulating Nikita, the Headmaster, Mr Tyrone Howe, said “This is a reflection of Nikita’s hard work and commitment to his studies and is very well-deserved." Dr Lays Valim, Head of Digital Strategy, adds “Nikita is part of the first cohort of pupils studying the Computer Science A-level and we’re very proud that we have delivered such a success story. This is wonderful and very well-deserved.”
On receiving his offer, Nikita was quick to contact his teachers saying, “Many thanks for all of the support, kind words, and the encouragement you provided.”
Nikita joined Shiplake in September 2021 as a scholar identified through the HMC Projects Scholarship Programme, which Shiplake supports. The scheme, by the Heads’ Conference (HMC), gives students from Central and Eastern Europe the chance to study for two years in a British school.
Jonathan Wolstenholme, Director and Administrator of HMC Projects, comments “Nikita was one of 81 students from 15 countries to be selected for a scholarship through this programme run by HMC Projects in central and eastern Europe. In Ukraine, he was one of seven awarded a scholarship from the 38 candidates who had been selected for interview, having already passed a rigorous and competitive preselection assessment. Our experienced teams of interviewers, comprising retired and serving heads and senior teachers, are not only looking for academic excellence but also what the student will contribute to the school outside the classroom. One of the key features of the scholarship programme is that we are clearly targeting gifted young people from non-affluent backgrounds who will bring their own story.
Many of the scholar alumni go on to take up leading roles internationally in their chosen profession. Scholars and alumni who have benefited from this programme, made possible by the generosity of the schools providing the scholarships, speak highly of this life changing experience of studying in the UK and the opportunities they have enjoyed both academically and socially.
HMC Projects is therefore most grateful to Shiplake College for its generosity and support over the years in providing scholarship places through this scheme.”
In February last year we spoke to Nikita about the application process for the HMC Projects and at the time a Ukrainian news channel visited the school to write an article on him and film him being interviewed, in lessons and around his boarding house. Due to the Russian invasion just a few days later, further coverage of our conversation with him and the news company's visit was postponed... until now!
Speaking of the application process to HMC Projects, Nikita says he started applying for scholarship programmes in the US and UK when he was in Year 8. At first, he struggled to pass the maths assessments, or he would pass English and maths but not get past interview stage, but he kept trying and applying, whilst also spending time playing music, dancing, taking part in debate competitions and preparing for exams. In the January of his Year 10 he had the interview with HMC Projects; when he received the news he had been successful he says “It was one of the happiest moments of my life. What had been a dream and seemed so far away and unachievable, had come true.”
Nikita won the English-Speaking Union's (ESU) International Public Speaking and Research Competition in April 2021, representing Ukraine in (held online due to Covid instead of travelling to London). He also plays the piano to the equivalent of Grade 8 standard and has taken part in international events in solo categories and young composers' competitions. He also used to do intense national and classical dance training five days a week, for over two hours each session. Here at Shiplake we have been extremely fortunate to see Nikita perform in music concerts and he has also led dance evenings with the other boarders!
When we spoke to Nikita last January we asked what it had been like at Shiplake since he had joined and he said “It has been the most engaging, productive and the happiest four months.”
Congratulations again to Nikita on his Yale scholarship, he is truly an inspiration to us all.
