Current Sports President, Laura Shaw, is re-running for the role in this year’s election.
Enjoying her time this past year as Sports President, Shaw is hoping to continue building on the work she has already started.
Shaw completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sports Studies and her Master’s degree in Psychology of Sport at the University of Stirling.
Born in Australia, Shaw moved over to Scotland to complete her studies and to be closer to her dad’s side of the family who are from Scotland.
She is looking at what she has done and what she has learned this past year, but also what she wants to achieve to leave as a legacy.
Following the acronym CARE, she wants to show that she really does care about the sports union.
Shaw says that if it wasn’t for participating in sports at uni, she wouldn’t have two degrees. “It was a really important part of my time at Stirling,” she said.
Shaw’s Aims
Starting with continuity, Shaw has spent six years at Stirling and has built really strong connections in the Sports Union, staff at the University of Stirling Sport, and wider university staff connections. She would like to use that to build on experience and what they have to offer students.
She would like sports to be accessible for all and help everyone feel like they can take part in any way.
She wants student voice to be at the heart of student sport and that is where she thinks her relationships with that development can come in most useful.
Shaw would also like to collect data on why students participate in sports and work to improve these results where students feel discouraged.
Branding identity is a key part of Shaw’s manifesto to make the sports union more identifiable and ensure that pride is at the heart of every sport.
She also would like to expand student opportunities and wants students to capitalise on what they are offered at uni. This includes putting students through coaching courses to benefit their club and running for committee roles to benefit their future careers.
Making sports at Stirling inclusive and accessible is key for Shaw, who says, “We do good things, but I feel like we can do more.
“I would like to use that second year to really leave lasting change at the sports union.”
Reflections and Voting Information
Shaw feels like in her first year she has learnt an abundance of knowledge, enjoying working with clubs individually and building on her experience.
“I have achieved what I wanted to set out in year one, when I came in I acknowledged that those were things I could achieve in the time frame of a year but it’s that bonus year that, if I am elected, would be a legacy year.”
Voting for Stirling’s Student Union Elections opens on February 25 and closes on February 27, with results announced on February 28.
Featured Image Credit: Laura Shaw