Melanie Woiwode Scholars 2011-12
Sunny Chao
UC Berkeley
University of Glasgow
I am very grateful for the Melanie Woiwode Memorial Scholarship. Without this scholarship, I would not have had the opportunity to play for the University of Glasgow’s Girls’ Tennis Team. This term has been a lot of fun playing for the team. I always look forward to the multiple tennis practices throughout the week. Tennis is a great way to relieve me of my stresses as well as to go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Being as I am studying in Scotland, beautiful days are not common and therefore whether it is sunny or rainy I will still be out on the courts playing tennis. The weather in Scotland has taught me how to play in all sorts of weather conditions, whether rain or wind. However, I have yet to experience playing in snowy conditions when the courts become icy. That will be my next challenge. Before coming here, I had been accustomed to cancelled tennis matches and ending a tennis session early due to unexpected rain. I respect the dedication of athletes here and have learned to play in the toughest of weather myself.
Tennis has also had a positive impact on my time abroad. At the fresher’s taster session, I met many people, both Scottish and international, some of which I have stayed close friends with. I really like how social and large the tennis club is that I meet new people all the time. I always have a good laugh at the weekly practices, chatting with friends while playing tennis. One of my fondest memories was going to Edinburgh to play my first game. I can still remember how excited I was to play for the team. Even though we did not win the match, we all still had a good time.
Sasha Degtyar
UC Berkeley
University of Edinburgh
On the plane to Edinburgh I watched a lot of complementary TV. I remember an RBS commercial in which a Korean girl comes to Edinburgh to study for a semester. You see her doing all the stereotypical things – playing golf, giggling over hot chocolate with friends, eating haggis. In the final scene you see her bungee jump off a bridge. Something about that commercial managed to speak to me [though I bank with Barclays], and I decided that my study abroad experience should be a “no regrets” sort of thing.
When the Society Fair had a Skydiving Society, it seemed like fate. The people were nice so I said, “Why not?” It was £185 for that first weekend
: 6 hours of training, roundtrip bus, and my first jump. Except we didn’t jump that weekend; we froze and got rained on. So here I am, all trained and nowhere to jump. So what do you do? You buy train tickets for next weekend – another £50ish pounds – and hope for better weather. Skydiving was definitely beginning to add up.
Without this scholarship I don’t think I would have joined, which would have been a shame, as that weekend I had some of the most fun I’ve had during my time in Edinburgh and jumped out of a plane in a break in clouds. I was literally on cloud nine! I’m so thankful for this opportunity. I’m actually considering getting my license when I get back to California. Big air and blue skies!
Alex Matthews
UC Berkeley
University of Edinburgh
Growing up in southern California, sports and exercise were simply an inherent part of my routine. The weather or finding time to go for a run or play a game of soccer was never a question; I ran every day. Thus the rainy weather and dwindling daylight hours in Edinburgh were a bit of an adjustment. Athletics always went beyond just the physical and mental benefits for me; some of my best friends are those I met participating in teams such as cross country. This made joining the Running Club a perfect way to acclimate me to Edinburgh. In just a month and half with the team, I have met some amazing people, gone to great races and events, and kept up with my training arguably better than I do back home.
This scholarship helped make the decision to join the Edinburgh Hounds and Hares an obvious one. I normally run individually and can do so without having to pay membership fees. My participation would still have been limited, as races such as the one I attended in Manchester, cost money for transportation and entry. Skipping those opportunities would be easy, especially on a limited budget where the exchange rate makes just buying food seem twice as expensive as back home. Receiving this scholarship eased my mind about being able to participate in future races.
I’d absolutely recommend this scholarship to students, as I’ve found sports to be one of 
the most fun ways to meet people in Edinburgh. The Running Club has made my experience here so much more fulfilling. It’s kept me in shape and allowed me to meet amazing local students, and I am so grateful for this opportunity.