TEN of Northern Ireland’s brightest young people have won a free education at Queen’s, worth a total of almost £150,000, after being named Queen’s Scholars.
As a Queen’s Scholar, the students, who are beginning their studies at the university later this month, will each have their annual tuition fees paid by Queen’s for the duration of their undergraduate degree.
The awards, which are in their second year, are worth a total of almost £150k to the 10 winning students, who were selected from 156 students nominated by 83 schools and colleges across Northern Ireland.
Each school or college was asked to nominate those pupils who could demonstrate exceptional achievements outside academic life, whether in sport, music and the arts, business and enterprise, or through community work, with a particular focus on leadership, enterprise and social responsibility.
Prior to the announcement, a shortlist of 68 pupils attended a selection day at Queen’s where they were assessed on a range of competencies by a number of business leaders.
The 10 Queen’s Scholars are:
Rebekah Ruth Craig, Strathearn School, Belfast — Maths.
Rachel Cullen, Grosvenor Grammar, Belfast — Medicine.
Eoin Curran, St Patrick’s Grammar, Downpatrick — Medicine.
Daryl Jane Hinchcliffe, Glenlola Collegiate, Bangor — Chemistry.
Nina Lloyd-Humphreys (Donaghadee), Sullivan Upper School, Holywood — Law.
Katie McComb, Victoria College, Belfast — Medicine.
Jordan McCullough, Carrickfergus Grammar — French and Spanish.
Bronagh McGuckin, St Mary’s Grammar, Magherafelt — Dentistry.
Aoife McQuaid, Our Lady’s Grammar, Newry — Law and French.
Jason Nicoletti, Ballymena Academy — Medicine.
Announcing the winners, Director of Student Plus at Queen’s, Isabel Jennings, said: “Each of the Queen’s Scholars has demonstrated exceptional leadership and enterprise skills, and an outstanding commitment to social responsibility which, alongside their academic strengths, mark them out as the best and brightest young people Northern Ireland has to offer.
“I am delighted to welcome them to Queen’s. I am sure they will each make a valuable contribution to university life and embrace the many opportunities on offer here. A Queen’s degree is about much more than an education, it is a gateway to the world.”