Loughborough College has a strong tradition of graduates who have balanced pursuing a sporting career with gaining their qualifications.
Aimee Middleton and Emma Hardy are the latest in a line of students who have completed their Applied Sports Science course and played professional-level sports.
Aimee additionally balances being a carer for her family with training and playing rugby for Sandal RFC while also studying. With her dissertation scoring highly, Aimee has now gone on to study for her MSc in Sports Science.
Aimee said: “It has been tough to balance the schedule of home life, school and training and playing at Sandal. There are times when I wasn’t sure where I was coming from or going to next, but the college has been great in organising my studies around the other commitments I have to make.”
Emma Hardy has also graduated in Applied Sports Studies and has been playing for Loughborough Lightening women’s rugby team. As well as performing well in her studies, Emma has been working as a Women’s Pathway and Development Manager at Northampton Saints as part of what has already been a hugely successful partnership between Lightning and Saints developed over recent years.
“Half of my role is overseeing the Loughborough Lightning Centre of Excellence, which is the Under-18s programme,” said Emma. “The other half of my role is building relationships with girls’ sections at local clubs”.