A west Fife girl is one of only three young Scots to win a prestigious seven-week scholarship to Harvard.
Torryburn teenager Cally McKenzie, who has been helped by Aberlour fostering service, will embark on the experience of a lifetime when she walks in the footsteps of American presidents and world business leaders thanks to Aberlour Fostering, the Spark Of Genius Trust and Who Cares? Scotland.
The 17-year-old, who lives with her foster mother and father, will leave this weekend for Harvard summer school.
When her mother’s health condition deteriorated, she was unable to look after the youngster. And so Cally one of 6000 children helped by Aberlour each year was looked after away from home as a young child.
Cally, who will study psychology and creative writing at the Massachusetts Ivy League school, said, “Harvard will give me the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and enable me to broaden my horizons socially, academically and culturally.”
She will be joined for the course by Dean Roger (16) from Greenock, who has attended Spark Of Genius, and Mandy Clarke from Musselburgh, who was supported by East Lothian Council. The trio will be among 1300 students attending from all over the world.
They will live in halls of residence and be mentored by Harvard undergraduates as part of the scholarships which are awarded by competitive selection.
Having also had to satisfy Harvard’s demanding selection procedures, the three teenagers have also each raised £500 to contribute to their living costs.
Aberlour service manager Nicola Fearon said, “We are so proud of Cally. This proves that young people in care can be supported to successfully achieve their dreams, hopes and ambitions.”
She added that there is a national shortage of families able to offer substitute care, so Aberlour is running a campaign to attract more foster carers.
Ms Fearon said, “Fostering is an enriching experience involving the whole family.”
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Cally follows in the footsteps of George Fraser from Dundee, who attended last year’s summer school through the Who Cares? Scotland and Spark Of Genius scholarship, which was set up to show that young people in care can achieve at the highest level.
The charities have also been providing support for young people from care to attend university summer schools in Scotland and giving grants for vocational training.
Education and lifelong learning secretary Michael Russell said, “Dean, Cally and Mandy are shining examples of what can be done when young people, no matter their background, are given the right opportunity and use talent and hard work to seize it with both hands.
“I am sure that their summer in Harvard will be a life-changing experience that will set them up for whichever career they choose.”
Spark Of Genius director Steve Clark said, “Many of the young people who come to Spark have been through troubled times in their past and it is our hope that we can offer them a better future.
“We see the trust as a stepping stone to a better tomorrow for many young people and we are delighted to be working with Who Cares? Scotland.”
Who Cares? Scotland chief executive Heather Gray said Harvard’s prestige encapsulated the charity’s ambition for young people in care to succeed.
She said, “The opportunity to travel and to live independently presents challenges and opportunities. The intensive nature of the seven-week semester, with the emphasis on high academic demands in a supportive environment, also appealed.”
She added, “There are summer schools available in Scotland but they are typically for one or two weeks aiming to provide tasters of university life Harvard’s programme is an actual university experience.”
Photo David Wardle.