Thank you
One of the great pleasures of my second year as Mistress of Girton College has been to see the power of philanthropy in action across our community.
Your gifts this past year have allowed us to launch a new academic internship scheme for undergraduates, welcome talented postgraduates from all over the world, boost extracurricular activities, and so much more.
Going to university is one of the most formative experiences in our students’ lives and we want to strike the right balance. Girton is a place that not only nurtures academic potential and cares about welfare, but also challenges our students to build essential skills and the resilience required for their lives and careers after Girton.
I hope you enjoy reading the stories in this report of Girtonians whom you have helped set up for success.
With my best wishes,
Dr Elisabeth Kendall
TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED
1,922,082
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
Multiple projects*
£342,933
The Annual Fund (unrestricted): £374,172
YOUR COMMUNITY
1,037 Girtonians made a regular gift
128 Girtonians under 35 made a gift
91 Girtonians made their first gift
YOUR IMPACT
Buildings and collections:
£381,122
* Fellowships, the arts, and financial sustainability.
* *Such as bursaries, scholarships, and grants.
Other student support initiatives**: £823,855
198 students attended Girton Skills Programme events
23 students received a Personal Development Grant
7 students took part in the first Academic Summer Internships
Enhancing excellence with the Annual Fund
Your unrestricted gifts to the Annual Fund are making a huge impact.
In October 2023, we launched the Girton Skills Programme to boost students’ academic skills, career prospects, and wellbeing while studying at Girton.
This year, we offered sessions on essay writing, a careers accelerator workshop with an expert from the Cambridge Judge Business School, and a tailored programme designed to help students manage the pressures of academic study.
Thanks to your support, 2023–24 has also been a year packed with extracurricular activities at Girton.
With exceptional performances by the Amateur Dramatics Society, spectacular and immersive concerts by the Music Society, and sporting success in tennis, netball, football, hockey and more, Girtonians continue to inspire us with their drive to get the most out of their time at university.
We are hugely grateful that you continue to support our students to strive for excellence in and beyond their studies.
Alexandra Bates is an aspiring climate researcher
Alongside a busy schedule during her second year studying Natural Sciences, Alexandra has been getting involved with the Girton Skills Programme.
“The Girton Skills Programme session on essay writing was hugely useful. Learning how to write a tailored essay with a strong conclusion that addresses what examiners are looking for has made a massive difference.
In fact, my supervisor commented that the essay I submitted after completing this session was the best one I had written so far. I’ve also regularly attended the yoga sessions at Girton, which has provided me with a positive and productive way to deal with stress and focus on my studies.”
“A highlight I’ve had this year is the opportunity to undertake the Girton Rokos Internship with the College’s Fellow in Natural Sciences Dr Alex Liu, which will focus on the Kimmeridge clay invertebrate fauna and how they were affected by environmental conditions. Studying ancient invertebrate responses to past environmental stresses can help predict how modern marine organisms might respond to current environmental challenges”.
In the future, Alexandra plans to pursue a PhD in Earth Sciences, now that she has discovered her vocation.
While at Girton, Alexandra has discovered a passion for paleoecology. This year, she has focused her studies towards understanding long-term ecological and environmental events and how they affect species’ evolutionary histories, which she hopes to explore further in a future research career.
“I cannot thank Girton College and its supporters enough for the difference they have made for me and my studies in the past two years. My goal is to have a positive impact on our planet’s current conservation efforts by using the skills and experience I gain at Cambridge.
For Caragh Haspel and Charlotte Lord, sport makes Girton
From maintaining our extensive on-site sports facilities, to providing funding for sports equipment and kit, donations to the Annual Fund help us to boost our sports offering and attract brilliant sporting stars to Girton.
Both Caragh and Charlotte have just finished their first year of studying Engineering at Girton. They also play together for the University of Cambridge’s hockey team and for the College team.
Caragh and Charlotte train for the University team three times a week, play matches on Saturdays, and still find the time to play friendly hockey at Girton on Sundays.
“Charlotte and I both played a lot of competitive hockey before we came to Cambridge and it would have been a shame to let that go. It has been a great way to let off steam and de-stress during the busy periods,” says Caragh.
Reflecting back on the past year, their first in Cambridge, they shared how they balanced a heavy workload with training several times a week, plus getting involved with other College sports clubs:
“We both found that when we didn’t have training we would end up being less productive. When you know you have to plan your schedule to fit in training, you end up managing your time better.
“Caragh also plays rugby and I’ve been trying out mixed lacrosse and mixed netball too. We’re so grateful to have so many opportunities for this at Girton. – Charlotte.
Ed Campbell-Rowntree divides his time between music research and performance
Before starting his PhD in Music at Cambridge, Ed studied music at King’s College, London (BMus), the University of Oxford (MSt), and the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester (MMus, PGDip) where he specialised in piano performance and song accompaniment.
“My research deals with a broad category of music in early-modern France, which is known for its preoccupation with death and dying. My hypothesis is that musicians and audiences of the period constructed a special connection between music and death via the genre of the ‘tombeaux’ (tombs). These pieces, written predominantly for the lute and harpsichord, were vehicles of expression which, through the
construction of ontological realms, allowed performers and listeners to convey grief and remembrance through exalted meditative states. I look at the writings of seventeenth-century France on the meaning of death, alongside specific pieces of music in order to illuminate their emotional content.”
Without the Rosalie Crawford Scholarship, I would have been, quite simply, unable to come to Girton College to study for my PhD. As many people know, postgraduate study is very expensive, so the support this offers me is really invaluable.
Ed’s PhD is supported by the Rosalie Crawford Scholarship.
Hilerie Kwan has her sights set on a career in media
Originally from Hong Kong, Hilerie studied Comparative Literature before applying to the University of Cambridge.
“
Initially, my parents were a bit sceptical of my choice to apply for the MPhil in Film and Screen Studies. However, when I was offered the Chan and Mok Scholarship, they were happy to send me off to explore this new opportunity.
Cambridge’s student newspaper, Varsity, as a film reporter has complemented her Master’s studies and prepared her for the career she plans to pursue.
“In the UK, there is a really vibrant media industry and my Master’s has helped me develop research and data analysis skills in preparation for a career in this space. I would never have been able to undertake the MPhil without the scholarship, especially as an international student with the cost of overseas tuition. The scholarship really helped me to pursue academic study without having to worry about working part-time alongside my studies.”
At Cambridge, Hilerie has taken advantage of the range of extracurricular activities while completing research on the depiction of social spaces in queer cinema in Hong Kong after the handover in 1997.
Writing for the University of
Michael Hsu Chung Chuan is in the third year of a PhD in Physics “
Michael studies experimental quantum physics. Specifically, his research investigates how the use of ultracold atoms as detectors to probe fundamental physics in mid-frequency gravitational waves and ultra-light dark matter can help us answer questions about the universe.
“My motivation for undertaking a PhD in Physics stems from my desire to answer fundamental questions in the world. I also wanted to further solidify and strengthen my research potential and to gain a deeper understanding of how physics can influence and impact the world around us.”
When he arrived at Girton in 2021, Michael had not managed to secure funding to support his studies. Then, towards the end of his first year, thanks to a generous gift, we were able to launch the Girton Singapore Scholarship.
As soon as I heard about the scholarship, I knew I had to apply. Being successful has relieved a huge financial burden. I have since been able to focus on my research without worrying about earning money.
Now that Michael is approaching the end of his studies, he is torn between staying in academia or moving into a role in industry. Despite the dilemma, he feels prepared for the next steps.
“Being financially supported by the scholarship means that you have more opportunities to expand your horizons, go to conferences and advertise yourself to a global network. Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to go out, meet new contacts and make myself known.”
As a state-schooled bursary recipient who was the first in my family to go to university from a small town near Birmingham, it feels surreal to have graduated. I would like to express extreme gratitude and thanks to the supporters of the College for helping me in my journey.
Lauren Court graduated with a degree in English Literature in June 2024
Lauren graduated with a high upper second-class honours degree, and was awarded the Sir Arthur Arnold Scholarship for her final year results. At the same time, Lauren has balanced her studies with a range of extra-curricular activities.
“My time as an undergraduate has been incredibly fruitful. As well as being President of the Bingo Society, and President and Senior Advisor for Girton Spring Ball, I was co-President of Girton Amateur Dramatics Society. I’ve written, directed, and acted in many Girton productions. Most recently, my solo stint in directing and editing Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ raised £200 for Parkinson’s UK.”
Lauren was also a committed Student Ambassador throughout her time at Girton, helping out with open days and other outreach activities.
Now that her studies have come to an end, Lauren is transitioning from Girton student to staff, as she takes up the role of Schools Liaison and Outreach Officer. In this position, she will be boosting Girton’s widening participation initiatives, bringing wisdom from her experience at Girton College and the wider University of Cambridge.
“My time at Cambridge has been incredibly fulfilling, but having been occasionally picked up on for my non-London dialect, my ‘Black Country twang’ and ‘natural Shakespearean accent’ over the years has taught me a lot. Specifically, that we must continue to demystify the idea of a ‘typical’ Cambridge student.”
Opening the doors to Cambridge with Admissions
Tutor Dr Seb Falk
Your gifts towards widening participation are helping our Admissions team to support key initiatives with the following aims:
Encouraging the widest possible range of talented applicants to the University and Girton, especially from historically under-represented groups.
Supporting applicants to navigate the admissions process and helping schools to help their students.
Empowering offer-holders to succeed, from supporting applicants to achieve their A Level grades, to preparing them for life at Cambridge.
These intiatives include:
The Link Areas Scheme: We are strengthening relationships with schools in North London and the West Midlands, working to understand the local contexts that might encourage or inhibit progression to Cambridge.
School visits: In March, we brought 100 students from 8 schools across the West Midlands to spend a day with us. They took subject masterclasses with Girton Fellows and workshops designed to raise aspirations and build skills in self-motivated study.
Pathways to Higher Education: This flagship Girton project targets students from age 11 with a carefully staged programme of activities designed to inspire students to aim for the University of Cambridge.
The Cambridge Foundation Year in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences: Girton is one of 11 colleges that pioneered the Foundation Year, which is about to start its third year. Aimed at students who have suffered educational disadvantage, this rigorous one-year programme gives them the skills they need to succeed in the Tripos examinations.
STEM SMART and STEM Start: Students aspiring to study sciences are supported through STEM SMART, a 17-month programme, now in its third year. This provides students who have suffered educational disadvantage with a programme of tutorials and mentoring during their final two years at school, and has been proven to raise A-level attainment.
74% of 2023 entrants were educated at state schools.
21% of 2023 entrants have a home postcode within the 40% most deprived areas of the UK.
15% of 2023 entrants are from neighbourhoods in the UK with the lowest rates of participation in university.
Dr Maria Reyes Baztán researches radical Basque nationalism
Maria is the Jean Sybil Dannatt Fellow in Modern and Medieval Languages. Her research explores how radical Basque nationalists adopted and exploited anticolonial ideas to legitimise their claims for independence in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
“My research looks at the origins and development of anticolonial thought in the Basque nationalist movement. Many of the movement’s thinkers held conflicting views about colonialism and race.”
“At times, early Basque nationalists made strong anticolonial and anti-racist statements and called for solidarity with other colonised people around the world. At other times, they repurposed the language of colonialism to position the Basques as a superior race to justify their claims for independence from what they considered an inferior race – the Spanish.”
Maria is currently writing a book based on her PhD in Global History thesis,,
which maps out connections made between Basque nationalists and anticolonial movements in Cuba, Ireland and Morocco.
Prior to joining Girton, Maria taught Global History, and Spanish and Latin American literature and cultures, at the Universities of Warwick, Nottingham, and Reading.
Alongside her research, Maria has spent her first year at Girton giving supervisions on Spanish literature and culture to around 20 students in their first and second years.
“My supervisions have been the highlight of my year in Cambridge. Exploring the course material in such detail in small groups and watching my students grow in skill and confidence is a privilege. I feel immensely grateful for the support that has allowed me to work with these brilliant MML students in such a friendly, open College.”
Reviving our historic Cloister Court
In 1866, our founder, Emily Davies, confided her vision for Girton College in a letter, writing that the learning environment must come “with gardens and grounds and everything that is good for the body, soul and spirit”. Such an environment is as important for our students, Fellows, guests and visitors now as it was in the College’s early years.
Thanks to generous gifts we have begun to reimagine Girton’s historic Cloister Court. The project is transforming the central Court from a car park into a tranquil and impressive green space with thoughtful planting, gravel pathways and a beautiful terrace.
Between 2023 and 2024, we completed most of the work. We have now installed a beautiful terrace, connecting our buzzing Social Hub café to the Court and creating an exterior meeting space for Fellows, students and staff to come together.
We have also completed works to square off and landscape the area around the Court, with pathways now installed. Our gardens team has worked hard to create a thriving green space that complements the walkways and terrace and supports the natural wildlife on our site.
Thank you for your support towards enhancing our site and creating an environment in which our community can flourish.
Help us continue to shape futures at Girton
If you would like to make another gift, you can do this in a number of ways:
• A regular gift by direct debit or standing order.
• A one-off gift by bank transfer, cheque, credit or debit card.
Gifts can be made online via our website, where information is also provided on how to give by bank transfer or by cheque. Visit www.girton.cam.ac.uk/giving.
Alternatively, you can scan this QR code on your mobile phone to donate:
If you would like to discuss your giving with a member of the Development Team please email development@girton.cam.ac.uk.
Leave a Legacy
Gifts in Wills allow Girton to transform the life-chances, experiences and opportunities of talented scholars from around the globe. Bequests are vital in helping Girton to support outstanding undergraduates and postgraduates, to maintain a world-class Fellowship, and to secure its pioneering mission for generations to come.
To find out more about how you can remember Girton in your Will, please contact the Development Officer (Alumni Relations and Legacies), Dr Emma Cornwall.
e.cornwall@girton.cam.ac.uk, +44 (0)1223 338901 or visit www.girton.cam.ac.uk/legacy
Everyone who notifies Girton of their intention to remember the College in their Will is eligible to become a member of the 1869 Society. Named to recall the year of the College’s foundation, members receive a bespoke lapel pin and are invited to special events hosted by The Mistress.
ABOUT THE 1869 SOCIETY
received through gifts in Wills in 2023—2024.
supporters have notified the College that they are remembering Girton in their Wills.
“
Girton College provided me with a world-class undergraduate experience where I was brilliantly supported and inspired to be able to develop on my own terms, academically, socially and personally, far beyond many of my feared limitations as a teenager with autism and mental health challenges.
Girton gave me some of the key tools I needed to forge and sustain as productive and as fulfilling a life as I feel I could ever have realistically envisaged.
I wish to help the College secure its financial position so it can continue to provide such an amazing, life-changing experience for future generations of students.
Dr Andy Ayres (1984, Geography)
