Ryan

When Ryan Bounagui was granted a scholarship at Glasgow Caledonian University back in 2011, he never could have predicted it would help propel him into a career producing news for STV and ITV.

But for the BA (Hons) Multimedia Journalism graduate, the impact was immediate.

“It helped with so many different things, from the cost of books to not having to dart about doing various shifts here, there and everywhere.

“What that allowed me to do was just completely focus on my studies and my tuition. It was incredibly important.

“And I also think to even be given it in the first place; there has to be a bit of recognition or a kind of show of faith to even want to give you that scholarship in the first place. So, it was a wee kind of self-esteem top-up.

“So, I think my University experience without it would have been completely different as to what it was with getting that scholarship.”

After graduating in 2015, Ryan’s career took off when he secured one of 12 places on ITV’s prestigious news traineeships from a pool of 1,500 applicants nationwide.

“That was probably one of the proudest moments of my life, because that was an immensely competitive process to get a place on that.

“I think towards the end of my time here at GCU, through some of the modules that we were doing, I started to develop a sense that I wanted to work in TV. So, to be able to do that after graduating was just incredible.

“So, I now work at STV, across the STV News programme and the Scotland Tonight programme. And I am incredibly blessed to work in the field and the profession that I've always, always wanted to.”

Looking back on his journey from student to STV Producer, Ryan remains deeply grateful to those who made it possible.

“I have nothing but gratitude for the people who did support that scholarship, and I can say that with complete and total sincerity.

“A huge, sincere, and immense thank you for the difference that has made to not just my time at University, but my entire life.

“And I just hope that perhaps examples like mine offer a kind of living testimony to what scholarships can do for students.”