The next chapter for the Uggla Family Scholars 2026
For the Uggla Family Scholars who graduated this summer, the end of their time at LSE is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of a lifelong community built on opportunity, ambition and mutual support.
Celebrating the 2026 Uggla Family Scholars graduates
That community was on hand in July at a special graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of the third graduating cohort of the Uggla Family Scholars Programme:
- Jonathan Aloysius (BSc Economics)
- Ana Fegan-Smith (LLB 2026)
- Ibrahim Kalam (BSc Maths and Economics 2026)
- Isabella Mercer (LLB 2026)
- Niamh Smith (LLB 2026)
- Jia-Ren Tan (BSc Environment and Sustainable Development 2026)
Joining the scholars were Cassidy and Kendall Uggla as well as Will Meldrum and Roslyn Taylor from The Uggla Family Foundation; Uggla Family Scholars alumni; and their friends and family.
Speakers at the event, including Professor Larry Kramer, LSE President and Vice Chancellor, recognised not only the academic success of the graduating scholars, but also the impact of a programme that for the past five years has helped talented students from a wide range of backgrounds thrive at LSE and beyond.
More than a scholarship, a family
Addressing the graduates, Will Meldrum, representing The Uggla Family Foundation, praised the cohort's achievements and reflected on the challenges, obstacles and barriers many had overcome to reach this milestone.
I have seen your courage, your discipline and the quiet strength you carry with you. Your determination, perseverance and hard work are your magic powers.
While the graduates are leaving LSE with strong academic results, their experience of the programme has gone far beyond the classroom. Throughout their studies, scholars have benefited from financial support, mentoring, professional development opportunities and a close-knit community that continues long after graduation.
For many, that sense of belonging is what makes the programme unique.
The Uggla Scholars Programme is so much more than a programme. It's a family. It's another family that you get given as soon as you join LSE. Everyone's so supportive.
That theme was echoed by fellow scholar Jonathan, who reflected on the friendships formed during his time on the programme.
When I came to the Uggla scholarship, just meeting these people, some of them were not similar, but we got to share experiences together.
Creating opportunities that last beyond graduation
The programme brings together students from different backgrounds, disciplines and life experiences; it builds confidence and opens up new possibilities. What unites them all is a commitment to making the most of the opportunities available to them and supporting one another along the way.
Ana, who graduated with a law degree said the experience had given her a broader understanding of both herself and the world around her.
Ultimately, I have come out of LSE with a broader and greater appreciation of the world, the people in it, myself, how I fit into the world, and a better and clearer idea of what I want in my own life and what's next.
The strength of the Uggla community was evident throughout the evening. Returning to speak at the ceremony was Arif Choudhury, a member of the programme's first cohort who graduated from LSE in 2024 and now works as an analyst at JPMorgan. Reflecting on his own experience, he described the programme as "life-changing" and spoke about the impact of the financial support, mentorship, careers advice and network that scholars receive.
His message to the graduating cohort was simple: stay connected, support one another and remember how far they have come.
That message was reinforced by Will Meldrum, who encouraged scholars to see graduation not as an ending but as the next stage in their relationship with the programme.
As in previous years the Uggla Family Foundation asked graduates to do three things:
- Advocate for the scholarship so others can benefit
- Stay in touch with the Uggla Family Scholars community
- Return in the future to support the next generation of scholars.
The class of 2026 are now embarking on the next chapter of their lives and in turn we are looking forward to welcoming the next group of Uggla Scholars to LSE this coming September. For those new Scholars following in their footsteps the graduates had a clear message:
"Believe in yourself. We're all in it together and all you can do is try your best."
Thanks to the generosity and vision of alumnus Lance Uggla, LSE Honorary Fellow and Founder of The Uggla Family Scholars Programme, many more students will have the opportunity to do exactly that.
