THE PRESTON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD 2025

The Preston Scholarship is awarded each year as an annual bursary to a student resident in St Anselm Hall who has shown outstanding contributions to Hall life. The award bears the name of the Reverend Canon Professor Ronald Preston, a former Warden of the hall (1948-63) and an active Christian Socialist.

Potrait of Revd. Canon Prof. Ronald Preston

Ronald Preston is undoubtedly one of the most significant figures in the history of the St Anselm Hall. He was passionate about student welfare and pastoral care, particularly in a Christian context.  During his time at hall he oversaw its expansion to very much the form we know today. The Dining Hall, Summerfield and Manor wings, Chapel and Lodge were all put in place during Ronald Preston’s time.

In 1963 he left St Anselm Hall to take up a residentiary canonry at Manchester Cathedral, before being awarded the University’s first Chair in Pastoral and Social Theology.

Applications for the Preston Scholarship are always a window into how much happens within the hall, and the vibrancy of the community. Societies, events, activities are all student led and demonstrate the commitment of students to their community. The quality of the applications is always impressive, and this year has been no exception. Applications were independently reviewed by a panel of judges and at the end of that process there was unanimous agreement.

The winner of the Preston Award 2025 is Ishita Jaiswal.

L-R: Association Chair, Jon awarding the Preston Scholarship to Ishita during the London Dinner

Over 2024-2025 Ishita has been President of the JCR and provided strong evidence of upholding the spirit of Ronald Preston in recognising the importance of creating a warm, welcoming and coherent community where students would feel engaged and could form lasting friendships.

In leading the JCR throughout this time Ishita recognised early on that the year would have challenges. Despite the ongoing success of arrangements at Slems, the structure of student-led activities was evolving into a centralised operation with fewer resources and more oversight from central university management teams.

Undeterred, Ishita oversaw the organisation of a wide range of events throughout the year, from large scale traditional events to smaller moments of joy. The launch of a table tennis and squash tournament proved particularly popular and a debating society was also established. Collaboration with the Chapel team and the Association were critical activities ensuring that cultural events took place at Christmas and Easter, as well as Diwali and Holi celebrations that fostered a deeper sense of belonging and ‘home away from home’.

The Easter Ball was the flagship event of the year and it was largely due to Ishita’s perseverance that it happened at all. The logistics of coordinating and planning with a range of parties, not all of whom were supportive of the project, and then overcoming short notice disruption close to the event were challenges that might have defeated less determined people, but Ishita found ways to work around these and the Easter Ball was a great success.

Ishita showed a clear understanding of the ethos of St Anselm Hall, what was important in creating a community for those within the hall and she worked tirelessly to ensure that the experience of those in hall was as fulfilling as it could possibly be. Ishita’s personal qualities and leadership were evidenced throughout the year and she is a worthy winner.

L-R: Maggie Mcfaul during the Hall Pgotograph Day; Maggie with her friends during Easter Ball; Seojun Lee; Seojun (Holding the 'Foca Barca' sign) and his friends unboxing secret santa gifts in the Open JCR (Christmas 2024)

However, the story doesn’t end there.  Ishita herself in her application spoke highly of her supportive team. In recognition of the high quality of entries and the contributions of Seojun Lee and Maggie McFaul to a successful year the Association felt it was also important and appropriate to recognise their efforts by awarding them each £100.