Lewis Pummell, from Enfield Grammar, wins place on the Sutton Trust US Programme

Enfield Grammar School wishes you all the best on the next steps of your journey. Congratulations, Lewis!

Year 12 student Lewis Pummell has secured a place in the tenth cohort of the Sutton Trust US Programme, run in partnership between the Sutton Trust and the US-UK Fulbright Commission. 

Entry to the programme is highly competitive and Lewis was chosen from more than 1000 of the UK’s brightest students to be one of the 150 scholars. 

The Sutton Trust US Programme allows high-attaining low and middle-income UK students to explore US higher education and apply for admission to top US universities.

Speaking of his achievement, Lewis said: “It’s a really great opportunity for me to explore a wider range of prospects for my future and set myself up for something that suits me. Hearing past alumni’ stories about their time in the programme and studying in the US has really opened my eyes and made this dream more of a potential reality.”

Head of Year Ms Y Akaydin said “I’m so proud of Lewis as he was chosen from the 1000 of the UK’s brightest students to be one of 150 scholars who have secured a place in the programme.  It could not have happened to a more deserving student. Lewis is a hardworking, conscientious sixth former who in my opinion is very deserving. Well done once again”

The students receive guidance and advice from the UK-based team, enabling them to explore US higher education and learn more about the application process. All students will take an American university admissions exam, the ACT, preparation for which is included as part of the programme’s support.

Later this year, students on the programme will choose if they would like to continue to make applications to US universities alongside their UK applications. This second part of the programme includes admissions guidance from the Fulbright team, including university choices and support with applications and financial aid processes.

Since the programme started in 2012, more than 400 participants have secured places and significant funding packages at US universities, accessing approximately $100 million in financial aid.

The Sutton Trust US Programme is made possible through the support of its founding corporate partner, Bank of America, whose investment is matched by the Lund Trust, a charitable fund of Peter Baldwin and Lisbet Rausing who have generously supported the programme since its launch. The programme is also supported by Martin and Antoinette Sullivan.

www.suttontrust.com

For press enquiries please contact Christian Kusi-Obodum at the US-UK Fulbright Commission on 020 7498 4020 / [email protected] or Hilary Cornwell at the Sutton Trust on 020 7802 1660 / [email protected]

Vesak is one of the most important Buddhist festivals. It is also known as Wesak or Buddha Day.

Vesak is celebrated once a year. The date of Vesak changes each year as it take places at the time of the first full moon of the ancient lunar month of Vesakha, which usually falls in May or early June.

It is a celebration of Buddha’s birthday and, for some Buddhists, marks his enlightenment (when he discovered life’s meaning). Each Buddhist culture has its own traditions for the day, but it is celebrated in lots of different countries, including many across Asia such as: India, Thailand, and North and South Korea.

Many Buddhists will go to their local temple and some might even stay there throughout the day and night of the full moon.

Many will do good deeds, take part in chanting and meditation, reflect on Buddhist teachings, bring offerings to the temple and share food with people. Families may decorate their homes with lanterns, take part in processions and wear special white clothes to mark the occasion. Friends and family may also send cards to each other.

A ceremony called Bathing the Buddha may also be held, when water is poured over the shoulders of the Buddha to remind people to clear their minds of negative thoughts like greed and hatred.

It is also a time to reflect on his teachings and what it means to be Buddhist.

Buddhists do not believe in a single god who created the world and everything in it. In fact, most Buddhists believe in the teachings of a man called Siddhartha Gautama – also known as the Buddha. Siddhartha is believed to have been a prince who was born into a wealthy family in what is now called Nepal in the 5th Century BC.

It’s believed that Siddhartha Gautama realised that wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness. So he travelled as a homeless holy man to learn more about the world and saw the suffering in the world. It’s believed that after six years of studying and meditation on his travels, he became spiritually aware and reached his goal of finding meaning in life. This is called enlightenment.

At this time, he became the Buddha and for the rest of his life he taught his followers of his experiences.

Buddha is a title, rather than a name, which means the enlightened or awakened one.

Teacher of RE, Mr Khan’s choice is, of course, one to get your minds thinking. The book grapples with the major questions of human existence: birth, death, God, time, relating to others and how to make ourselves get out of bed in the morning!

The Trouble with Being Born By E.M. Cioran

“I love it because it found me and changed my life. It is the reason I have a degree in Philosophy and in Theology as well as the reason I am a teacher of philosophy, religion and ethics. The author shamelessly exposes the reality that none of us asked to be born and then necessarily have to die. He highlights the predicament we are all forced into… and out of.” “There was a time when time did not yet exist. … The rejection of birth is nothing but the nostalgia for this time before time.”

www.enfieldgrammar.org/learning-support/literacy/