Bobby Jones legacy lives on through unique St Andrews student exchange

Almost a century after Bobby Jones forged his special relationship with St Andrews, a new generation of students is experiencing the life-changing international exchange created in his memory.

Four graduates from Emory University in Atlanta - Josh Grand, Asmita Lehther, Yurok Song and Claire Burkhardt - are spending the 2026-27 academic year at the University of St Andrews, undertaking postgraduate studies with scholarships supported by the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation.

They are part of the Robert T Jones Memorial Trust exchange programme, which brings four Emory graduates to St Andrews each year while four St Andrews graduates travel in the opposite direction to study at Emory.

Established by the friends and family of the legendary American amateur golfer, the Trust celebrates the enduring relationship between Jones, St Andrews and Emory University, his alma mater. The Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation has supported the programme with grant funding since 2013.

“Four students are selected from each university, to switch places essentially, and it is fully funded,” said Heather Edie, Head of Campaign & Donor Relations at the University of St Andrews.

“This exchange is at postgraduate level so the students we send to Emory will have completed their undergraduate degree at St Andrews, and vice versa. And the exchange students, on both sides of the pond, all tell us that they have an amazing experience.”

For Yurok Song, who studied physics and biophysics at Emory and is now undertaking an MSc in Mathematical Biology at St Andrews, the words of Bobby Jones himself provided inspiration to apply.

“There was this one quote that stood out to me where he said that I could take out of my life everything except my year at St Andrews and I would still have a rich, full life,” said Yurok.

“For the past few weeks that I’ve been here, it’s been everything that he said. It’s been amazing, breathtaking, and I’ve had such wonderful experiences with wonderful new people.”

Yurok’s academic interests lie at the intersection of biology, physics, mathematics and medicine, with his St Andrews course exploring quantitative models of biological systems including cancer, disease and population dynamics. His longer-term ambition is to become a physician-scientist, using mathematical modelling to better understand disease and improve patient care.

He believes the exchange between the two universities has particular value in an increasingly interconnected world.

“I have a great affection for Emory University,” he said. “It’s in such a rich, vibrant community in Atlanta, but also in this modern, rapidly changing world where intercultural collaborations are so important across all disciplines, getting to meet new people in new countries and new environments is just an opportunity you can’t pass up on.”

For Claire Burkhardt, the encouragement of previous St Andrews exchange students she met while studying at Emory helped convince her to make the journey to Scotland.

A graduate in Computer Science and Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies, Claire is studying for an MLitt in Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian Security Studies in the School of International Relations.

“At Emory I was lucky enough to get to know some of the scholars who came over from St Andrews and they really sold me on how beautiful St Andrews was and told me that I should apply and come experience everything that Scotland has to offer,” she said.

“The School of International Relations has a really amazing course that was exactly what I wanted to study. It’s the only course like it in the world that offers a master’s degree in comparative studies between the Middle East and Central Asia, so once I learned that, I was sold. I’m so grateful that I did apply.”

Claire, who hopes ultimately to pursue a career in public service in the national security field, believes the breadth of the scholarship experience is one of its greatest strengths.

“The most amazing thing about the Bobby Jones Scholarship is that it is what you make of it,” she said.

“If you’re excited about a certain course of study, you can take those classes. If you’re excited about exploring America, you can do that. If you’re excited about taking a year to grow, to meet interesting, amazing people and to see what comes next, the Bobby Jones Scholarship has room for all of those.

“It’s a really holistic experience, both intellectually and personally, and it’s all about learning to appreciate the interconnection between St Andrews and Emory and to see where it takes you.”

Josh Grand is also embracing that opportunity.

After completing a double major in International Studies and Philosophy, Politics and Law at Emory, Josh is studying for a Master of Public Policy at St Andrews.

A talented footballer who captained the Emory Men’s Soccer Team to its second consecutive University Athletic Association Championship and also played semi-professionally while studying abroad in the Netherlands and Argentina, Josh has had to bring his playing career to an early end following a serious ACL injury. His academic interests are now firmly focused on public policy and US foreign policy.

“I applied for the Bobby Jones because I knew there’s a lot of value in pushing yourself outside your comfort zone and being exposed to new perspectives, and that’s definitely been the case since getting here,” he said.

“I’ve concurrently studied the most I ever have while playing the most golf I ever have as well. I guess those may seem at odds, but that’s kind of the whole point of the scholarship, to emulate Bobby Jones and his well-rounded and ambitious view on life and just explore new interests. That’s what this year has been and will continue to be, I’m sure.”

Josh is equally enthusiastic about what awaits the St Andrews students making the journey in the opposite direction.

“There’s not much not to love about Atlanta, arguably one of the best cities in the world,” he said. “We’ve got the diversity, the weather is a bit better than here, the golf maybe not better but it’s getting close to par, and the people naturally make the place.

“The southern hospitality is really what defines your experience there, similar I guess to the Scottish culture but with a few southern twists. I could not recommend enough spending a year there.”

Fellow Master of Public Policy student Asmita Lehther arrived in St Andrews after graduating from Emory with a degree in Human Health and Political Science.

Her undergraduate years combined academic research with leadership and community work, including sexual assault advocacy, refugee health literacy, immigration research and public health policy. At St Andrews she hopes to build on those experiences as she works towards a future career in global health policy.

“One of the main reasons that I wanted to apply was to not only deepen my understanding of the healthcare system in Scotland, but also of the way that the environment is built,” said Asmita.

“I think so much of St Andrews and Scotland is built around beauty and really preserving legacy. You can see that in Dean’s Court, where we get to live, but also in the way that people treat one another.”

For Asmita, becoming part of the community created around Jones and the scholarship has already proved particularly meaningful.

“I think it’s been one of the most immense privileges of my life, not only to work with three other incredible students, but also to learn more about the legacy of Bobby Jones as a golfer, as an athlete, as a lawyer and also just as a family person,” she said.

“There are so many opportunities to come to incredible golf championships, to meet people from across the world and also to form mentorships.”

The programme has its roots in one of golf’s most celebrated relationships. Jones completed his unique Grand Slam of the era’s four major championships in 1930, the same year in which he won the British Amateur at St Andrews, and his affection for the town and its people endured throughout his life.

That relationship now continues through generations of students travelling between Scotland and Atlanta, building friendships, pursuing their academic ambitions and experiencing another culture in a way Jones himself valued so highly.

And the next chapter will be a significant one: 2027 marks the 50th anniversary of the exchange programme, with celebrations planned at both Emory University and the University of St Andrews.