Twin establishes University of York scholarships for tragic brother
Posted on 8 May 2005
Nigel and Neal Thompson each graduated with a BSc in Economics from York in 1990, but Nigel was killed at the age of 33 in the September 11 attacks on New York.
Neal Thompson is funding the scholarships in memory of his twin brother who was "never afraid to reach for his dreams." Nigel was senior partner at Cantor Fitzgerald working as a broker on the currency options desk on the 105th floor of the north tower at the time of the terrorist attacks.
These scholarships are a way to thank York and to help others who wish to follow the path my brother and I chose in economics
Neal Thompson
The scholarships carry an annual award of £2,000 for three years for accommodation costs, with a further sum of £1,000 a year for general living costs provided by the University’s Department of Economics and Related Studies.
Neal Thompson said: "Studying Economics at the University of York was fundamental to Nigel’s success in life. My brother and I both credit York as an essential link in our career success. York is not only a great academic institution, but also a cultural melting pot with professors who believed in us and inspired us to go forward and achieve. These scholarships are a way to thank York and to help others who wish to follow the path my brother and I chose in economics.
"I believe that a quality education from an institution such as York is vital to one's future, and I sincerely hope that these scholarships will help students to achieve their dream of pursuing a career in finance. I also hope that they serve to carry on Nigel's memory for many years to come."
Head of Department, Professor Huw Dixon said: "These scholarships will provide a lasting memorial to Nigel Thompson whose life was cut short in such tragic circumstances. We are grateful to Neal Thompson for giving future students this wonderful opportunity."
The scholarships are available to UK students who wish to study Economics at York. To apply, students must have a firm offer and their annual household income must be less than £21,000 a year.
Full details on how to apply for the Nigel Thompson Memorial Scholarships will be sent in June to all UK students who hold a firm offer from the Department of Economics at York.
Notes to editors:
- In February 2004, the twins’ parents Pat and Norman Thompson, of Lodge Moor, Sheffield, unveiled a plaque commemorating Nigel next to a tree planted in his memory near the Department of Economics at the University's Heslington Campus.
- The Department of Economics and Related Studies at York is one of the largest and most active in the country and within it are economists, econometricians, statisticians, and economic historians. Over 100 undergraduates enter annually who come from many different backgrounds and from all parts of the UK and abroad. The Department achieved a maximum score of 24/24 in Subject Review (Teaching Quality Assessment). The Department was also classified as 5A in the latest Research Assessment Exercise.