Youth education and leadership

THE DEV CROPPER MEMORIAL AWARD
“…a continuing act of parenting which we feel privileged to perform.” (John Cropper)

THE CROPPER FOUNDATION sponsors the Dev Cropper Memorial Award, a financial award to a third year student at the London School of Economics. It recognises outstanding contributions to student life and the wider community by students during their first two years at the School. In 2001, the LSE took a decision to contribute two awards under the Dev Cropper Memorial Award programme. While attending the 2001 Director’s Ceremony for donors and scholars, John acknowledged the school's contribution. "We don’t need vindication for the philosophy that we have espoused in establishing the award," he said, "but we are gratified that the School has been noticing and is willing to associate with an award which some probably see as the antithesis of a University degree programme."

Dev Cropper In 1998, John Devanand Cropper, son of Angela and John Cropper, was a final-year Government student at the London School of Economics (LSE). He was active in the Student Union and in student politics. He campaigned against racism and the international arms trade and volunteered with a charitable organisation – Action Against Hunger - which raises money for hunger relief in Africa. According to TCF board member Kevin Thompson, a close friend of Dev since childhood, "Dev never forgot those who were poor, exploited and forgotten. He suffered from no shortage of humility or compassion." Dev also wrote for LSE's student newspaper, The Beaver, and it was writing that he chose to be his vocation. In March of 1998, he died suddenly at the age of 20 from an inexplicable heart failure. Two weeks before his passing, he was made an Honorary Life Member of the Student Union. Dev died a couple of months before writing his final undergraduate exams. The LSE conferred on him an aegrotat degree. The Dev Cropper Memorial Award seeks to recognise and assist students who share Dev's commitment to their immediate community and to the larger society.

Past recipients of the Dev Cropper Memorial Award:

Brendan Cox - 1999/2000

Brendan Cox, a History and Government student, was the first winner of this award. In his second year at LSE, he was elected chair of the Labour Club and Publicity Officer for the National Organisation of Labour Students.
Since 1997, during his vacations, Brendan worked in the former Yugoslavia with children traumatised by the civil war. He also raised money for homeless charities by organising sponsored 'sleep-outs' at LSE.
In his final year at LSE, Brendan was elected National Chair of Labour Students. Before graduating, he was made a life-time honorary student and elected as a governor of the LSE.
He now works for DrugScope, the UK's leading drugs charity, as Press and Parliamentary Officer.

"Winning the Dev Cropper Memorial Award has had an immeasurable impact on me. Not only did it give me the opportunity to spend more time in Bosnia… it also raised the profile of community and voluntary work across the LSE student committee. Dev, John, Angela and the awards they have set up have acted as an inspiration to hundreds of students and have highlighted that life is about much more that the pursuit of individual advantage.' Brendan Cox

Ritesh Doshi - 2000/2001

A management student at LSE from 1998, Ritesh Doshi served two terms on the Students' Union's Executive Committee.
He was Managing Editor of the Students' Union newspaper in 1999. His other commitments while at the LSE include the BP Student Tutoring Programme, which assists in the academic and social development of inner-city children, and writing about development issues in Africa. When he graduated in 2001, he was awarded an Honorary Lifetime Membership to the Students' Union.
He now works in the London office of San Francisco-based Probitas Partners, a private equity firm. African development issues remain close to his heart.

" The Award permitted me to continue my service to the Union, students, and community, without worrying about the financial burden of being a student. … I hope I can touch the lives of the people I come in contact with, the way the Croppers have touched mine." Ritesh Doshi

Ian Curry - 2001/2002

A History and Government student, Ian has been working since he was thirteen years old in order to put himself through university. As editor of the Student Union newspaper he was committed to encouraging new writers and enhancing the environment in which they worked. Ian was also active in the Rag week/charities task force and has organised several charity events.
At the time he received the award, Ian was planning a cross-country fund-raising bike ride to benefit the Save the Children Fund.

"I am extremely humbled to receive this award. The ideas behind the Dev Cropper Award are so noble and the expectations so high that it would be impossible to be anything else." Ian Curry

 

Ying Wai - 2006/2007

This young woman's list of activities in which she has participated and played pivotal roles is incredible: from involvement in Project Hope to Chinese-basesd rural language programs, to befriending some of London's elderly populace, to supporting witnesses as they came forward in court to give evidence