Influential panel to judge scholarship final

An impressive line-up of influential professionals from a broad range of STEM industries has been announced for the judging panel at this year 's Millennium Point Trust Scholarship Final.

Now in its seventh year, the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship has already funded six inspiring young people from the region through their degrees at Birmingham City University 's Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment.

Previous winners of the scholarship include Sagal Qodah in 2017, who has since gone on to graduate with a First Class Honours degree in Civil Engineering.

The five Scholarship finalists for 2021 will be announced later this month.

The judging panel, which will be headed by Abbie Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point, also features:

• Professor Hanifa Shah - Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, Birmingham City University
• Kari Lawler - Founder at Youth4Code and Youth4AI
• Mike Ridler - Head of Business Development and Education at Learn by Design
• Sam Gibbs - CEO at IT specialists 81G

Abbie Vlahakis said: “The calibre of finalists for this year 's scholarship is impressive as ever, so it 's only right that the quality of our judging panel is equal to it.

“This is a phenomenal opportunity for all five students - not just the winner of the life-changing scholarship, but the advice and support they all receive from the Trust, both before and after the final. ”

The judges will hear presentations from all five finalists during a special assessment day on 21 May.

The winner will be announced during a closed ceremony at Millennium Point on Friday 29 May.

The event will be streamed live from the newly-refurbished Auditorium across the multi-award-winning venue 's digital channels.

For more information, click here.

Pictured (l to r): Last year 's Millennium Point Trust Scholarship final - Hanifa Shah, executive dean of the Faculty of Computing Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University; Abigail Vlahakis, CEO of Millennium Point; Shennice Talburt, scholarship winner 2020; Prof. Nick Morton, head of the School of Engineering and the Built Environment