Sports Scholarship Scheme Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
The University of Kent's Sports Scholarship Scheme has seen many exceptional athletes achieve incredible feats both within and outside the University. Our Hall of Fame is where we showcase some of these talented individuals.
Tom Vandenkendelaere
Hometown: Roeselare / Belgium
Sport: Volleyball
Academic course: Master (2006-2007) and PhD (2007-2014) in International Relations with a focus on the Polish-German Relations in the context of EU enlargement
Current job / company and workplace: Member of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg
Best sporting achievement while at university: BUCS Championship 3rd place
Best sporting achievement outside or post-university: West-Flanders Cup Finalist
Details of current sporting status, recent competitions, results or upcoming events: Due to time constraints, I focus on individual sports such as cycling and running. However, I am still very much involved in the volleyball world as a board member of the volleyball team of my home town: Knack Roeselare
Short reflection on your time at Kent University and on the Sports Scholarship Scheme: The Sports Scholarship Scheme allowed me to train like a professional sportsman whilst studying. Progress was real, thanks to the excellent trainers that were associated to the Sports department.
About Tom
Tom is currently a member of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg having graduated from Kent with a PhD in 2014.
"My sports helped me to achieve professional goals that I would otherwise probably never have been able to achieve. I laid the foundations for that in the sports hall and gym of the University of Kent, and am absolutely honoured to say that."
Read our interview with Tom on our blog.
James Mapley
Hometown: Bognor Regis
Sport: Road Cycling / Time Trialling
Academic course: LLB Law / 2014-2017
Graduation year and result: 2017 / First 1:1
Current job / company and workplace: Solicitor (Construction) at Irwin Mitchell LLP, Felpham / Gatwick
Best sporting achievement while at university: Sports Scholar of the Year. 8th (10 Mile) and 9th (25 mile) at the National BUCS Time Trials in 2017.
Best sporting achievement outside or post-university: Achieving a time of 19m03seconds for a 10 mile TT and 48minutes57seconds at a 25 mile TT.
Details of current sporting status, recent competitions, results or upcoming events: Half ironman distance triathlon – June 2021 at Goodwood Motor Circuit.
Short reflection on your time at Kent University and on the Sports Scholarship Scheme: The highlight of my time at Kent was my time on the sports scholar scheme. As a result of the coaching I received across my three years, my results improved year on year, culminating in top tens in both of my national BUCS events in my final year. Training alongside ‘the best’ athletes and coaches, helps to challenge you to seek improvement at every opportunity and to maximise your full potential.
About James
James is currently working as a Construction Solicitor at Irwin Mitchel LLP having graduated from the University of Kent in 2017. He is still a keen athlete:
"The competitive desire remains strong for me. I am relishing the new challenge of long-distance triathlon and ‘starting afresh’ with running and swimming."
Read the Kent Sport and Kent Law School interviews with James.
Sports Scholarship Scheme
If you're interested in joining the University of Kent Sports Scholarship Scheme, you can find more information on our website.