AN outstanding university student from Croesgoch has won himself a scholarship and the chance to study abroad.

Hywel Philips, a second year MEng Agricultural Engineering student, has been chosen as the new Claas scholar at Harper Adams University.

The scholarship is awarded annually and offers one student financial support and a work placement year at the company's headquarters in Harsewinkel, Germany. Twenty year-old Hywel said: "I am absolutely thrilled. It was a very competitive process and the fact that I live with two of the other candidates made it even more difficult.

"Having the chance to be part of a global company whilst at university is a rare thing and hopefully this will lead to a future career with them. I really enjoyed the interview process as it allowed me to improve my presentation skills and really emphasise why I wish to become an agricultural engineer.”

Hywel will be working with Claas for 15 months and will start by spending three months with Claas UK in Suffolk. He will then spend 12 months working at the Claas headquarters in Germany.

Hywel said: “I am very excited about working there and getting a feel for a new culture and the language. I will be given the opportunity to work with some of the best agricultural engineers there are and working on concepts that are a few years down the line.”

Hywel is a former Ysgol Dewi Sant pupil and away from his studies he enjoys watching rugby. He also plays the guitar and collects models, but no doubt his biggest interest is in agricultural machines.