It is announced today, Tuesday 20 January, that Tarian Jones and Gruffudd Howell from Cardiff University, and Bailey Powell-McCloy from Aberystwyth University are the three students to receive this year's Gareth Pierce Bursary.
The bursaries are worth £3,000 each and are offered to up to three undergraduate students studying at least a third of their Mathematics degree course through the medium of Welsh.
Bailey Powell-McCloy from Blaenavon, Torfaen, is a former pupil of Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw. As someone who comes from a non-Welsh speaking family and has learnt the language at school, having the opportunity to continue his Welsh education at university is very important to him. He said:
"Mum doesn't speak Welsh, but she wanted me and my brother to go to a Welsh-medium school to get new opportunities.
"I'm glad that I've been able to continue to use my Welsh at university through my studies, and socially too.
"Welsh and Maths open so many doors, and the language will certainly be an advantage when I'm applying for jobs in the future."
Tarian Jones from Ammanford loves studying Mathematics at Cardiff University and the language has played an important role in her personal development on the course. She said:
"Through communicating in my mother tongue with my tutors, I have developed a close relationship with them which has been of great benefit as I get used to the work.
"There is a vibrant community of students studying through the medium of Welsh at Cardiff University, and I'm delighted to be part of that community."
Gruffudd Howell, a former pupil of Ysgol Bro Myrddin, hopes to work as a Mathematics teacher in the future. He said:
"My interest in Mathematics developed at school. I like the certainty that comes with maths, and the way things logically fit together.
"I would like to share my enthusiasm for mathematics and my mother tongue by being a Mathematics teacher in a Welsh medium school.
"I am very grateful for the bursary, and I will use the money to take part in the activities of the University's Welsh Language Society, and to invest in Welsh-medium resources that will support my studies."
The bursary was established in 2022 in memory of Gareth Pierce, who was Chair of the Board of Directors of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol and previously Chief Executive of the Joint Education Committee for Wales (WJEC), before his sudden passing in 2021.
Dr Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of the Coleg, said:
"On behalf of the Coleg, I would like to congratulate Bailey, Gruffudd and Tarian on winning this year's Gareth Pierce Bursary.
"Gareth Pierce was a friend, colleague, and influential figure who made a key contribution to the Coleg and the wider field of education in Wales. It is therefore a privilege to support this bursary in conjunction with WJEC.
"We hope the bursary will support the students to thrive on their courses, and we wish them every success in the future."
Ian Morgan, Chief Executive of WJEC, said:
"The fact that the popularity of the Gareth Pierce Bursary continues to grow is strong evidence of Gareth's lifelong passion for mathematics and learning through the medium of Welsh.
"On behalf of WJEC, I am delighted to congratulate Bailey, Gruffudd and Tarian on winning this prestigious bursary. We wish them every success with the upcoming studies. Hopefully this bursary will be a means for them to thrive and fulfil their full potential while pursuing their courses."
For more information about the Gareth Pierce Bursary, and to check which courses are eligible, visit the Coleg Cymraeg website.