Two Ursinus Students Awarded St. Andrews Scholarships

The St. Andrews Society of Philadelphia is one of the oldest continuously running charities in the United States, founded as a beacon of Scottish heritage and committed to uplifting and supporting those within their community. The society’s philanthropic efforts extend to higher education, where it financially supports a select group of students to study abroad in Scotland through highly competitive scholarships.

For the first time in the society’s storied history, two Ursinus College students have been awarded the St. Andrews Scholarship in a single year.

Kelsey Lyons ’27 received the Bishop Scholarship, while Trey Dykeman ’25 received the Bruce Scholarship. Each scholarship is valued at $40,000. Lyons will spend her junior year at the University of Glasgow, while Dykeman will pursue graduate studies at the University of St. Andrews. Dykeman is the first Ursinus student to win two St. Andrews Scholarships, having previously won and studied at St. Andrews in the 2023-24 academic year. He is also the first Ursinus student to receive a full scholarship for graduate studies from the society.

Lyons, an English and creative writing major with a minor in Spanish from Chalfont, Pa., is a passionate reader. Her inspiration for applying for the St. Andrews Scholarship came from her favorite author, Alasdair Gray.

“Gray is from Scotland, and he wrote extensively about the country. Since I’m required to study abroad as a Melrose Fellow, I originally planned to go to Spain. But when I learned about this opportunity, I thought it would be a perfect fit for studying something I love, closely related to my major,” Lyons said.

During winter break, Lyons read and researched aspects of Scottish literature. With support from Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Kelly Sorenson, Ph.D., as well as guidance from former scholarship winners, Dykeman and Cassie Denning ’26, Lyons crafted her presentation and prepared for the extensive interview process. In early March, she learned that she had won the scholarship and the opportunity to study abroad.

“The first thing I did was text my mom. My parents have been very supportive throughout everything,” Lyons said. “There are also a lot of people at Ursinus that I have a lot of gratitude for.”

While at the University of Glasgow, Lyons plans to read and analyze more works by Gray. She also plans to explore other contemporary Scottish authors such as Tom Leonard and James Kelman, in addition to immersing herself in the historic city of Glasgow. Lyons will conduct research related to her Melrose Fellow topic of economic inequality. She also plans to visit museums and historical sites throughout Scotland.

Dykeman had planned to return to Scotland for his graduate studies even before learning he had been awarded the scholarship. He applied to return to St. Andrews prior to hearing the news.

“The biggest reason I wanted to return was the mentorship I found there, specifically from (Professor of Philosophy at the University of St. Andrews) Theron Pummer,” Dykeman said. “I was also drawn to the competitive environment—everyone at St. Andrews is incredibly intelligent and driven, and that pushes me to do more. It was a great feeling.”

Dykeman’s studies revolve around a field in philosophy called Effective Altruism. The Jackson Hole, Wyo., native studied the topic under Pummer and returned to the United States to continue his research with Sorenson as a part of his Summer Fellows research project.

“Part of Ursinus’s mission is to encourage students to push beyond their horizons and explore the world, and this opportunity allows me to do that,” Dykeman said.

The Bruce Scholarship, which Dykeman received, is named after Robert J. Bruce, the president emeritus of Widener University, who passed away in April 2024. Dykeman had the privilege of meeting Bruce during his initial interview for his first St. Andrews Scholarship in 2023.

“He was a wonderful human being—so friendly, warm, and caring,” Dykeman recalled. “It’s a full-circle moment for me, especially since it’s awarded in memoriam of him. I also had the chance to meet his son, who’s a member of the society, and it made it even more special to express how much his father meant to me.”

Dykeman will pursue a Master of Letters at St. Andrews, focusing on Effective Altruism and broader issues in consequentialist ethics within systems influenced by economics. His career goal is to become a philanthropic advisor for high-net-worth charitable organizations.