[SOUND OF WAVES]
University of St Andrews
Making Waves
The Campaign for St Andrews
SaintsCall
[MUSIC]
>> DR KIRSTY WARK: The University of St Andrews, making waves since 1413.
This year, the annual telephone campaign – SaintsCall – will run from Monday 2 June to Sunday 22 June.
Our student callers are excited to share their experiences at the University of St Andrews and tell you why they chose to be part of SaintsCall.
They can’t wait to speak with alumni, family members, and friends – to connect, listen, and share what makes St Andrews so special to them.
>> AMELIE AHAMMAD GEENS, 1st [year] BSc (Hons) Psychology: My name is Amelie, I study psychology, but I also do modules in Biology and Art History.
>> TABBY STUART, 2nd [year] MA (Hons) Philosophy and Theological Studies: My name is Tabby, I am a second year student currently studying Philosophy and Theology.
>> FLYNN WHITTAKER, 3rd [year] MA (Hons) Economics and Modern History: My name is Flynn, I'm a third year student of Economics and Modern History.
>> ALEX BARTON, 3rd [year] BSc (Hons) Mathematics: Hi, I'm Alex I'm a third year Maths student.
>> SIOBHAN WILLIAMS, 4th [year] MMath (Hons) Mathematics: I'm Siobhan, I'm a fourth year Maths student here at St Andrews.
>> VICTOR SCIARRETTA, 4th [year] MA (Hons) Philosohy and Spanish: My name is Victor, I study Spanish and Philosophy
[TITLE] Describe your St Andrews experience so far.
>> ALEX: It's been really amazing. It's my first time living away from home, so that's always really exciting.
And I've just met so many people here.
I couldn't imagine having gone to any other uni.
>> AMELIE: I've really enjoyed my time at St Andrews so far.
I'm in first year so I'm still pretty new but I've really enjoyed the traditions especially Raisin Weekend and May Dip.
[TITLE] Where’s your favourite place in town or on campus?
>> FLYNN: I think my favourite place in town is probably up by the cathedral, kind of at the intersection of North Street and South Street, and then Market Street's kind of fizzled out by then.
You've got these fantastic old buildings.
You've got the, sort of, cathedral ruins.
I think it's a fantastic place where you see the sort of old traditions of the town intersect with kind of the bustling hubs of modern student life.
>> TABBY: Castle Sands.
I mean it is just such a beautiful beach, and I think everyone there always feels so peaceful and I like how it doesn't change over time, you know, every St Andrews student at any point will have been able to, like, recognize that beach and relate to their own experiences there.
And I just think it's such a magical place with so much history and it's amazing - especially swimming there as well!
[TITLE] What motivated you to apply for a position as a student caller?
>> VICTOR: I also enjoy it a lot, because I am involved; I end up being involved in different St Andrews projects that with fundraising and things like that, and it's kind of my way of helping the Uni out, giving back to the Uni after being here for so long and sort of that's my way of saying thanks as well, and helping for future students as well.
>> SIOBHAN: This is my third time taking part in SaintsCall for St Andrews.
My first time was in second year, and I remember applying because I really wanted to kind of make a difference and, like, help raise money for different St Andrews courses as well as talk to alumni and kind of help see what they were up to now, to help me with my career path changes.
And over the years I've had some really interesting conversations with people and have actually managed to keep in touch with some people I've talked to, so it's been really good.
>> ALEX: So I received a Wardlaw Scholarship and that's really changed my life at Uni.
I wouldn't have been able to come study here if it wasn't for it.
And so, finding out that this is one of the ways that students can help fundraise for scholarships like that, I just knew immediately that I wanted to help other people like myself be able to get the same St Andrews experience.
[TITLE] What do you hope to gain from the experience?
>> AMELIE: I hope to gain communication skills professionally, through connecting with people over the phone.
And I also hope to just have a wider perspective on people's time at St Andrews and understanding their experiences and how the University changed them.
>> TABBY: I think, personally, I'm very excited about the possibility to get to know a lot more people, to speak to people about their experiences and share mine.
Professionally, I'm hoping to develop my communication skills, to engage with someone in a professional context.
>> FLYNN: I'm really looking forward to helping raise money for the Wardlaw Scholarships, as well.
I think it's very important to open access to this fantastic town, and these scholarships really provide a fantastic way for alumni to give back and widen the community that they were part of.
[TITLE] Why should alumni, family members and friends connect with SaintsCall?
>> VICTOR: By actually talking to someone who is living what you lived all those years ago – or maybe it was just a few years ago! – really gives them that connection to the University, makes them feel part of that.
And they learn about how it's changed, how it stayed the same and things like that.
And also, I've just, I just know that people – so there's that perspective – but there's also the fact that people often do want to thank the University — want to help the University – and this is one of the best ways to do it because it's more direct.
>> SIOBHAN: I think it's a really amazing way to give back to the University, but also kind of keep in touch with what the University is up to now.
And also, I think it really helps us as callers, to kind of develop lots of skills that will lead us places later in life which I think is really helpful.
And we absolutely love talking to alumni.
So, yeah, pick up the phone!
[TITLES]
Thank you!
We’re so grateful to everyone who has supported SaintsCall – past and present.
Your generosity, time, and encouragement mean the world to our students.
>> EVERYONE: Thank you!!