October 31, 2012 10.14 am This story is over 137 months old

Bursary boost for Lincoln engineering student

Sir Frank Whittle Bursary: A Lincoln student will receive a £3,000 bursary in honour of one of the pioneers of jet turbine technology.

A Lincoln student who has made an ‘exceptional contribution to engineering’ will receive a £3,000 bursary in honour of one of the pioneers of jet turbine technology.

The City of Lincoln Council backed the Sir Frank Whittle Bursary and University of Lincoln School of Engineering student Josh Williamson is the second annual recipient of the award.

Josh was selected for the award due to academic performance and his outreach work over the summer.

Copernicus Technology selected him to support a research project focused on assessing unique testing equipment and the levels of cable deterioration it could detect.

The project has been successful and the results are feeding ongoing lines of research.

Josh, a second year student on the Mechanical Engineering course at the School of Engineering, said:
“It’s fantastic as it will really help to make things a bit easier in my final two years of study,”

“I spent the summer working with Copernicus Technology Lincoln and I have now got a scholarship with Siemens so it may be that I stay when I graduate,” he added.

The award was set up last year by Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire to commemorate 70 years since the first jet powered flight in the UK made by the Gloucester E.28/39 using Sir Frank Whittle’s turbojet engine at RAF Cranwell.

The Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Karen Lee will present Josh with his certificate and bursary at a ceremony in the Guildhall on November 2.

City Councillor Neil Murray said: “Our support recognises the historic and ongoing importance of engineering as a major industry in the city.

“We are proud to recognise Josh’s outstanding academic achievement as well as his outreach work and we hope he may go on to be a part of our city’s continued reputation for engineering innovation exemplified by Sir Frank Whittle.

“We hope engineering businesses in the city will share our commitment to the industry and help other outstanding young students to enjoy the support of this bursary in years ahead.”