The Eileen Drummond Sheila Anderson (EDSA) Awards are named after law graduate Sheila Anderson (LLB 1956) and her mother, and offer support to law students in need of financial aid.

Sheila graduated in 1956, and went on to enjoy a successful career as both a barrister and an in-house lawyer. As a student, she received a state scholarship from the government to cover the costs of her fees and living expenses – the scholarship made her law degree possible and played an important role in her decision to establish a permanent fund to support law students at Bristol.

‘I much enjoyed my time there,’ Sheila said. ‘I wish to give others, who may otherwise be unable to afford it, the opportunity to study law at the University.’

Sheila pledged £1.5 million to create a permanent scholarship fund, and the first EDSA awards were presented to students Jack Brett, Lisa Bi, Daisy Luck, Winifried Robinson-Fell and Englanda Risto earlier this month.

Lisa said: ‘As the first person in my family to attend university, I am pleased to have been awarded this scholarship as I feel it recognises my determination and interest in law, and has also significantly reduced the financial pressure of studying at university. I would like to thank Sheila for her generosity and the support she has provided for students.’

 Jack adds: ‘This award means more to me than any amount of money. In addition to being such a generous investment in my education, it provides me with the confidence to feel as if I belong among such impressive individuals. I am able to appreciate the difference that having confidence placed in you makes, and I aim to repay the donor by showing others the same faith they have shown me. The thought behind helping those from more modest backgrounds to take the opportunity of a world-class education is one that I will be forever thankful for.’