Earlier this week, British Cycling commemorated the graduation of our esteemed 2022 Total Computer Scholar cohort at the National Cycling Centre.
The Total Computers Scholarship launched in 2022 with an intake of 17 scholars, who have since had access to British Cycling qualifications, a coach developer, coaching opportunities with the Great Britain Cycling Team and Talent teams, unique development experiences at major events and access to a community of scholars on a similar journey.
The graduation saw the scholars meet with special guests and coach developers, Richard Cheetham and Steve Noble before Jo Howson, Head of Education at British Cycling, then officially greeted everyone and initiated a reflective activity.
Cheetham graced the stage for a brief address and shared a video centred on 'lollipop moments'—instances where one significantly influences another's life, often unnoticed. Cheetham emphasised that each scholar present had likely created such a moment during the scholarship, whether consciously recognised or not. Reflecting on his mentorship with some scholars, he illustrated the tangible impact of the programme on those he closely advised.
Hear from our scholars
Scholars Asma, Tom and Megan shared their stories with the programme. Asma shared a poignant narrative about her late father, who ignited her passion for cycling during her formative years. She expressed a heartfelt wish that he could witness her remarkable progress, reflecting on her initial sense of apprehension when she embarked on the scholarship journey two years ago. At that time, she felt her knowledge paled in comparison to her peers', particularly as cycling wasn't widely embraced in her community.
Tom openly shared that prior to starting the scholarship, his life lacked clear direction. He recounted the serendipitous nature of how the opportunity presented itself, humorously revealing that he submitted his application video enroute to a Halloween party. To his pleasant surprise, he was accepted. It was truly inspiring to learn how the scholarship has profoundly transformed his life, instilling in him a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Moreover, he spoke warmly of the genuine and lifelong bonds forged with fellow scholars along the way.
Megan highlighted her daily routine of envisioning three key elements - something to look up to, something to look forward to and someone to chase. She used these prompts to summarise her time on the scholarship. She reflected on her scholarship journey, expressing gratitude to fellow scholars, mentors, and sponsors like British Cycling and Total Computers for giving her something to look up to. She eagerly looks forward to time with her family, acknowledging their sacrifices as the driving force behind her pursuit of education at Loughborough University and therefore the coaching scholarship. She emphasised her ultimate goal of chasing her future self, envisioning a 10-year version committed to realising dreams and making a meaningful impact, leaving everyone in the room inspired.
In preparation of her speech, Megan tasked her fellow scholars to encapsulate the significance of the scholarship in a single word. She then compiled all the words into a unified quote and requested that each scholar stand when their word was mentioned. The resulting quote was:
“This experience has been life-changing. Each and every one of us has been afforded world-class opportunities, rewarding opportunities that have fostered education, fulfilment and enrichment. Alongside offering new experiences, this programme has connected us, provided unwavering support and been a cornerstone of achievement. It has allowed us to build more than a network, we have all became friends for life.”
The graduation event concluded with some celebratory food, and the graduates eagerly made their way to the velodrome for the evening session of the British National Track Championships. It was an extraordinary day, commemorating the accomplishments of these gifted individuals, all made possible through the support of Total Computers.
2022 Cohort:
Henry Latimer
Shahina Chandoo
Max Holgate
Megan Smith
Asma Amla
Junaid Ibrahim
Benjamin Skaife
Henrietta Colborne
Robert Rogers
Chris Dallas
Hannah Paice
Oliver Allen
Kate Mingay
Megan Chard
Rebecca Trinity Jones
Nathaniel Martin
Tom Cullen
