When Duncan Hopkin passed away in December 2023, he left a gift in his will for the Hopkin Scholarship and the Hopkin Chapel Conducting Scholarship, extending his lifetime support for the University. His legacy will continue to enrich the lives of Aberdeen students for many years to come.
Louise Ward is one of the students whose life has been changed by Duncan’s generosity. Here, she tells her story.
“My name is Louise and I’m a mature student studying Marine Biology at Aberdeen. I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean, ever since I was a young girl, and had always dreamed of sharks and cetaceans, of coral reefs and tiny crabs. But growing up in poverty in the West Midlands as the oldest of seven children meant that my experiences of the ocean came from picture books borrowed from school and videos shown in biology class.
“While I’d always been a bright student in school, and consistently achieved good grades and praise from teachers, I lacked this encouragement in my home life. My immediate family have never pursued education beyond high school, so the thought of attending university had never been something I could truly comprehend. I left school at 16 and, despite an attempt at college, became homeless so I couldn’t afford to continue. I was under eighteen and there was very little in the way of financial support despite my circumstances. In the end, I went into full-time employment instead.
“The Hopkin Scholarship has meant that a significant weight has been lifted from my shoulders – the relief of knowing I can afford to be here without the ever-looming financial stress or worrying about having to quit my degree has benefited me in ways I cannot sufficiently put into words. I’m incredibly grateful for the generosity displayed by Duncan Hopkin which is supporting me and other students through our degrees.
“It was a lovely surprise to meet Duncan’s brother and sister-in-law, Iain and Ann, at the University’s Scholars’ Reception in March. It was so interesting and really nice to hear about what Duncan was like before he passed. I’m really grateful to them for taking the time to meet with me - it was such a pleasure.
“Outside of my studies, I’ve been volunteering with Buglife, an organisation that strives to protect vulnerable invertebrate species across the UK, assisting in habitat restoration as part of the Aberdeen B Lines project. I’ve also been building rapport with the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust based on the Isle of Mull and I’m hoping to volunteer with them. And I’ve become involved with the Knitting & Crochet Society at the University and have been spending time teaching the basics, which I’ve loved.
“I‘m so grateful for the continued support to achieve my goals through the Scholarship. It was an incredibly daunting decision to leave employment for an education at Aberdeen, but this felt like the right decision, and I’m truly looking forward to the future thanks to Duncan’s generosity.”
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If you would like to speak to someone in confidence about the gift in your will to the University of Aberdeen please contact Vanessa Holmes, Legacy Giving Officer, +44 (0)1224 274132 or vanessa.holmes@abdn.ac.uk.