FOUR exceptional science students from Northern Ireland have been recognised at the prestigious Hans Sloane Awards ceremony in the Ulster Museum.
The Hans Sloane Memorial Fund recognises Northern Ireland’s top achievers in A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and this year’s first place was won by Royal Belfast Academical Institution’s former pupil Omar Helmy, with second place going to Michael Knowles from Ballymena Academy and joint third place being awarded to Gavin Lundy from Our Lady & St Patrick’s College, Belfast and Hector Epanomeritakis who is a former pupil of Wallace High in Lisburn.
The pupils were presented with their awards at the Ulster Museum by guest speaker Professor Andrew Cooper, Professor of Coastal Studies at Ulster University.
First place winner Omar Helmy, who is now studying Medicine at the University of Cambridge, said: “I’ve always enjoyed science – even from a very young age I’ve been intrigued by how things work. That interest developed into a love of science and maths and it’s a real honour to receive this award. My results were down to a lot of hard work but I should also say that there were many people including my family and teachers who have encouraged me to do my best and strive for excellence.”
Congratulating the students, Honorary Secretary of the Hans Sloane Memorial Fund Committee, Sinead McCartan, commented: “It has been a pleasure to recognise these four outstanding young people in the Hans Sloane Awards. Hans Sloane was renowned for his love for learning and his passionate quest for deeper knowledge and understanding. We can see these qualities already in these superb students and wish them well in their future endeavours.”
Second place winner Michael Knowles is now studying dentistry at Queen’s University Belfast and third place winners Hector Epanomeritakis and Gavin Lundy are now studying medicine at the University of Cambridge and medicine at Queen’s University Belfast respectively.
The Hans Sloane Memorial Fund was established in 1960 to commemorate the life and work of the celebrated Killyleagh physician, scientist and collector Sir Hans Sloane.