Front (left to right): Jennifer Herron, Edward Montgomery, The Honourable The Irish Society, Michelle McConway, Nicole Lynch

Back (left to right): Dr Damian O'Kane, University of Ulster, Martine Mulherne, St Marys College, Seán Ferguson, Committee Chair, Gerry Daly, St. Cecilia's College

Three University of Ulster Step-Up students have each been awarded scholarships worth £1,000 by The Honorable The Irish Society.  

Nursing students Jennifer Herron and Michelle McConway, and Psychology student Nicole Lynch, beat off stiff competition to scoop the three £1,000 awards which will help support their academic studies.    

First year students who graduated from the University’s innovative Step-Up programme in August were invited to apply for the scholarships, and outline how the funding would enhance their education. 

A scholarship committee, comprised of representatives from the University, Step-Up schools and industrial partners, then selected the three top entries.    

Dr Damian O’Kane, Head of Access and Educational Partnerships at Ulster, said:

“We are delighted that The Honourable The Irish Society have once again provided very generous funding to enable Step-Up students to reach their full educational potential. The scholarships provide essential support to the recipients and make it more likely that they will be successful at university”

The Step-Up Programme, based in the North-West and in the greater Belfast area, is a unique and innovative interventionist programme which provides new learning opportunities in science for talented young people who live in areas of social and economic disadvantage and is supported by the Department for Employment and Learning and The Honourable The Irish Society.