Sisters defy the odds to graduate from Herts and secure Cambridge scholarships
Two sisters who once doubted whether university was even possible have not just graduated from Herts as top students on their courses – but will also be continuing their academic journeys after securing scholarships at the University of Cambridge.
Tabitha (pictured right) and Katrina Wilder (right), from Hertfordshire, overcame significant personal, educational and mental health challenges during childhood and adolescence to become two of the University's highest-achieving graduates. Together, they have secured almost £50,000 in scholarships to pursue master's degrees at Cambridge this autumn.
While at school, neither sister had thought that going to university was a possibility. They both encountered family and personal challenges in their childhoods, including mental health problems and neurodiversity, that disrupted and halted their education. They describe their achievements as confirmation that circumstances do not always define someone’s future and that barriers can be overcome.
Katrina, who left school at 16 because of mental health difficulties, returned to education through an Access course in psychology at Bedford College while working in the care sector. Just one month into the course she discovered she was pregnant.
Undeterred, she continued studying and working, completing her course with a distinction, giving birth to her son, Forest, only five days after submitting her final assignment.
When Forest was just 18 weeks old, she began studying a Sociology and Psychology undergraduate degree at the University of Hertfordshire. Choosing Herts was a pivotal decision that she believes just ‘felt right’. Living locally meant Katrina could take advantage of the University's on-campus nursery, breastfeeding facilities and supportive lecturers enabled her to balance the demands of single parenthood with her studies.
Katrina said: "I couldn't have done it without the University of Hertfordshire’s full support and guidance. The University made learning accessible for me and with my added determination and hard work, I was able to do it. I don’t think I slept for that first year but I wouldn’t stop."
She juggled single parenthood with academic success, graduating with an outstanding average mark of 87.46% - the top grade on her course. Her achievement led to offers from the University of Cambridge, the London School of Economics and University College London. After careful thought, she accepted a £30,000 scholarship to study Sociology, Marginality and Exclusion at Cambridge, to begin in October this year.
In the future, Katrina hopes to complete a PhD before moving into research, policy-making and social change, focusing on inequality, activism and marginalisation.
Alongside their studies and being student representatives for their courses, the sisters also took on part-time roles at the University, gaining valuable experience that strengthened their Cambridge applications and helped shape their future ambitions. The opportunities provided practical skills, professional networks and real-world experience that complemented their academic achievements.
As a student curriculum consultant and later a technology mentor, Katrina represented the student voice, supported fellow learners and presented at conferences. The experience helped pave the way for an internship through a University partnership with local charity Communities 1st, which subsequently led to permanent employment alongside her degree.
“I’ve used, and will continue to use, my experiences to advocate for parents in education, especially single mums who can come up against stigma about their worth and character,” said Katrina. “I really want to change that narrative and show them that having a child doesn’t mean giving up on your dreams.”
For Tabitha – who is three years younger than Katrina - the path to Cambridge was equally remarkable.
Having spent some of her childhood in care and experiencing significant disruptions to her education, alongside being autistic, getting a university degree also once felt unattainable. However, after initially beginning her studies elsewhere, she transferred to the University of Hertfordshire during the second year of her Education degree and found the support and confidence she needed to thrive. "I never really knew what it was that I wanted to do,” explains Tabitha. “I knew that due to my history, I was statistically much less likely to access higher education. Yet it’s been an incredible experience attending the University of Hertfordshire and I am forever grateful. I was supported with what I needed to thrive academically while managing my life and situation outside of that too."
Tabitha went on to graduate with 94.25%, also the top grade of her cohort, as well as one of the highest graduating averages at the University.
During her time at Herts, Tabitha also took on a number of additional roles alongside her studies. She was a Widening Access and Student Support (WASS) ambassador in her second and third years, a student ambassador in her second and third years, and an SCO for the School of Education and Law in her third year. These experiences, alongside her role as a student representative, helped her develop skills and experience beyond her degree.
She has now secured an £18,500 scholarship to study an MPhil in Knowledge, Power and Politics of Education at Cambridge. Her ambition is to pursue research before helping shape education policy to tackle inequality and improve opportunities for disadvantaged young people.
Reflecting on their journeys, the sisters hope their stories will encourage others facing adversity to believe in their own potential.
"We were both quite intensely suicidal at times,” said Katrina. We couldn’t really see a future and now we are excited for what lies ahead.”
Tabitha added: “We never imagined we had the academic ability needed to study somewhere like Cambridge but, thanks to the support, encouragement and education we received at Herts, that's exactly where we're heading next.”
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