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Chamber and committees

University of Stirling Graduates

  • Submitted by: Alexander Stewart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 July 2025
  • Motion reference: S6M-18211

That the Parliament acknowledges that four athletes, who have been supported to compete at the highest levels of their sports while on a University of Stirling scholarship, have celebrated their achievements at a summer graduation; understands that two-times Paralympic skier, Scott Meenagh, professional golfer, Louise Duncan, history-making judoka, Gabriella Wood, and record-breaking modern pentathlete, Tristen Bell, all received their degrees from Scotland's university for sporting excellence at the end of June 2025; notes that they are among 16 sports scholars, and more than 2,000 students, to have graduated from the University of Stirling over the two-day graduation; understands that Scott, from Cumbernauld, took up para sport after losing both his legs in an incident while serving as a soldier with the British Army in Afghanistan; further understands that he became the first Briton in 20 years to compete in Nordic skiing at a Paralympics in South Korea in 2018, and returned to Paralympic action four years later in Beijing; acknowledges that, in 2023, he became the first British athlete to win a para Nordic world championship medal, taking silver in the 12.5km individual biathlon and, in 2024, he finished third overall in the para biathlon sprint world cup; further acknowledges that he graduated with a BA (Hons) in History; believes that Scott has overcome a great deal to achieve this and is now focusing on the 2026 Paralympic games in Milan; understands that Louise Duncan has competed professionally while on a golf scholarship at the University of Stirling starting in 2019, with her profile within the sport soaring since then, driven by her historic win at the British Women’s Amateur Championship in 2021, beating Jóhanna Lea Lúdvíksdóttir of Iceland by the largest winning margin in the competition’s history; notes that Louise also played in the professional AIG Women’s Open in 2021, where she secured a phenomenal top 10 finish, winning the Smyth Salver for being the top amateur in the field; further notes that she was also invited to play in the US Women’s Open, Evian Championship and Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, and has played in the Ladies European Tour (LET) during her time as a student golfer; understands that Louise attributes her success to the support and coaching that she has received at the university; further understands that she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Sports Studies before flying to Sweden for her next event on the LET Access Tour; acknowledges that, in 2021, while a student at the University of Stirling, Gabriella Wood became the first woman, and second person, ever to represent Trinidad and Tobago in judo at the Olympics; understands that she has been British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) judo champion for three years, in 2022, 2023 and 2025; notes that, in 2025, she participated in the launch of the King’s Baton Relay ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; acknowledges that she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Sports Studies and stated that the University of Stirling helped her qualify for the Olympics in 2021 and gave her the opportunity to compete at the Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games; understands that Gabriella is now considering studying for a master’s degree at the University of Stirling while setting her sights on competing at the Commonwealth Games in 2026; acknowledges that modern pentathlete, Tristen Bell, won silver at the Pan American Games in 2023 and was crowned BUCS Modern Pentathlon Champion in early 2025 with a record-breaking performance, while on the University of Stirling sports scholarship programme; notes that Tristen, who was born in Florida and raised in the Czech Republic, stated that he was drawn to the University of Stirling by its excellent sports facilities and beautiful campus; further notes that he considers that the university played the biggest part in his success, as he was not professional when starting his first year, but started going to world cups and championships after a year; believes that thereafter his performance went from average to world-class; acknowledges that Tristen graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and Sports Studies and is now considering studying for a master’s degree while building towards the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles; understands that athletes at the University of Stirling have access to world-class facilities, including a 50-metre pool, unrivalled outdoor space, and a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning suite; notes that, in addition to its coaching and facilities, the university’s International Sports Scholarship Programme, which it believes is one of the largest high-performance programmes in the UK, offers athletes funding support, academic flexibility and equipment, and has supported hundreds of athletes since its inception in 1981, with many competing on the world stage, including at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games; further notes that its core sports include football, golf, tennis, swimming, triathlon, rugby and curling, and that individual scholarships cover all Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports, and commends Scott, Louise, Gabriella and Tristen, as well as the university and all its staff and graduates, on their truly excellent achievements.


Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Annabelle Ewing, Meghan Gallacher, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Douglas Ross, Tess White