Paralympic Swimmer Funds Scholarships for Disabled Students

After watching athletes gain access to life-changing opportunities at a summer training camp, Australian Paralympic champion Matt Levy decided to create the same chance for disabled students.

Levy, a three-time gold medalist swimmer with cerebral palsy and partial sight loss, is funding the Matt Levy Scholarship at the University of the West of Scotland. The award will help two disabled students each year cover essential expenses like food and travel while they study.

The scholarship grew from Levy's experience at a GAPS training camp at UWS's Ayr campus last summer. As Commonwealth Sport's Paralympic representative, he saw firsthand how access to proper facilities transformed athletes from countries with limited resources.

"At the GAPS camp, I saw what becomes possible when people have access to the right environment, support and connections," Levy said. "I wanted to carry that principle beyond sport and into education."

The scholarship is open to disabled students studying any subject at UWS, with no requirement to participate in sports. Students apply through the university's WEST program, which supports anyone facing financial hardship.

Levy competed at five Paralympic Games from Athens 2004 to Tokyo 2020. But he says some of his most valuable university experiences weren't medals or records—they were the people he met and the confidence those connections built.

Why This Inspires

This scholarship addresses a simple truth: talent exists everywhere, but opportunity doesn't. When a student worries about affording lunch or bus fare, they have less energy for learning, making friends, and discovering what they can contribute to the world.

Levy knows that removing financial barriers creates space for disabled students to thrive, not just survive. His hope is that scholarship recipients will eventually open doors for others, creating a ripple of inclusion that extends far beyond two students per year.

"Inclusion becomes meaningful when we take action to remove barriers," Levy said. "You don't have to solve everything to make a difference. You can start by creating an opportunity for someone."

UWS's Claire Darragh noted that when students complete their education, the benefits reach far beyond the individual—they carry their knowledge and experiences into workplaces and communities.

One champion is proving that the same principles that transform athletes can transform students: access, support, and someone willing to invest in potential.