After a campaign to find a special young person with a spirit of adventure, Immerse School of Diving have announced the 2015 Georgia Williams Diving Scholar.

Tom Edwards, aged 15 and from Wrekin College in Telford, was awarded the 2015 Georgia Williams Diving Scholarship after an arduous application process that showed his incredible passion for underwater conservation.

Tom submitted a clear application, and explained his interest for shark conservation during a lightning round of interviews with Steve Williams from the Georgia Williams Trust, Tony and Jo Flack from Immerse School of Diving, and last year’s Scholar Lois Adams and her family.

As the 2015 Georgia Williams Diving Scholar, Tom will have the chance to pursue an interest in the underwater World, and in turn to enable other young people to have access to scuba diving activities.  Tom will embark on a training programme to attain the prestigious PADI Master Scuba Diver rating with Immerse School of Diving in Telford.  In addition, Tom will experience a range of scuba diving experiences tailored to his interest in shark conservation, and will have a chance to meet some of the leading names within the scuba diving industry. Tom will also fulfil an advocacy role for the Trust, and will be responsible for raising awareness of the work of the Trust and its aims amongst young people in the Borough.

“When Steve announced that I was the Georgia Williams Diving Scholar for 2015, I felt an immediate adrenaline rush! I’ve wanted to get involved with marine biology for a number of years now, and Immerse School of Diving and the Georgia Williams Trust has provided a spectacular opportunity which will push me towards my dream,” says Tom Edwards.

But in a surprise moment, Steve Williams of the Trust also announced that the two runners-up in this year’s Scholarship selection would also be supported by the Trust to follow their underwater ambitions.

Through the application process Alix Tomlinson, 11 and of Crudgington Primary School, demonstrated a keen interest in learning to scuba dive which started when she saw divers returning from a dive with seals whilst on holiday. Alix was awarded a PADI Open Water Diver course to learn to dive with Immerse School of Diving.

George Ellison, 12, of Thomas Telford School, was shortlisted for the second year in the row, showing great tenacity.  George has a continued interest in pursuing a career as a marine biologist, and as a qualified diver received a full set of diving equipment to allow him to dive more often and gain important diving experience with the School’s dive club, Club Immerse.

The annual Scholarship is jointly funded by The Georgia Williams Trust and Immerse School of Diving. The Georgia Williams Diving Scholarship is also supported by BBC television presenter Monty Halls and dry suit manufacturer Otter Watersports.

“We are so pleased to have not one, but three remarkable young people for this year’s Scholarship programme.  Tom already has a great understanding of, and a passion for underwater conservation and a clear aim for his Scholarship year.  We are excited about the amazing opportunity this presents for Tom, and believe that he will make the very most of it.  For us to be help Alix become a scuba diver at only 11 years of age, and to see George take his passion for scuba diving further really is a privilege and the icing on the cake for the School and all of our divers,” said Tony Flack, Owner and Instructor, Immerse School of Diving.

For further information visit www.immersediving.com/the-georgia-williams-youth-diving-programme or contact Immerse School of Diving by emailing info@immersediving.com.  To follow Tom’s adventures as the 2015 Georgia Williams Diving Scholar, you can also follow his very own Facebook page here.