This article is from page 30 of the 2010-01-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 30 JPG
LISA Garry, a former pupil of En- nis Community College who is now studying primary teaching at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, was the recipient of one of the 87 scholar- ships for third level education award- ed last week by the Bank of Ireland.
Valued at over €1 million, the scholarships allow students who face economic, social or physical barriers an opportunity to access third level education. A total of 662 scholar- ships, ranging in value from €3,000 to €40,000 per annum, has been awarded by the Bank’s Millennium Scholars Trust. Established in 2000, the Scholars Trust has provided a fund of €12.5 million and was the largest single millennium _initia- tive from either the State or private sources.
Announcing this year’s awards, Bank of Ireland Chief Executive Richie Boucher, said it was an hon- our for them to enable hundreds of men and women change their lives through a decade of educational op- portunity.
“All of these students have exper1- enced significant obstacles such as
social disadvantage, financial hard- ship or serious disability. However, what they all have in common is the belief that education will provide them with the opportunity to move beyond their current circumstances and create opportunities that were previously only a dream. Already, over half of these students have grad- uated becoming positive role models for others in their communities, an impact which will be sustained long beyond the life of the programme.”
The majority of scholarship ap- plications were from those seeking to enter third level education direct from school. However, 100 scholar- ships went to mature students, an- other 100 to existing college students struggling to stay in third level due to funding issues and 70 to people with a disability.
The trust also made an exceptional provision for talented new emerging artists and over the ten years has ena- bled students attend such prestigious colleges as Juilliard School in New York and RADA and Goldsmiths College in London. 16 per cent of the 662 scholarships were allocated to Students of dance, drama/film, music and the visual arts.