Five Westmeath students were among the 224 scholarship recipients for 2008 announced by Dr Philip Nolan, deputy president of University College Dublin, recently.
Entrance scholarships are awarded to the students with the highest points in each degree programme across the university. The Westmeath Entrance Scholars in 2008 are Linda Connor from St Joseph's College, Athlone who is now studying Science; Mark Jordan and Sean Murphy, past students of St Finian's College, Mullingar, who are now studying Actuarial and Financial Studies, and Medicine respectively; Anita Mulligan from Wilson’s Hospital in Multyfarnham, who is now studying Children’s and General Nursing; and Mary Seery from St Joseph's Secondary School in Mullingar who is now studying Science at UCD.
Along with the five Westmeath scholarship recipients, Westmeath was also represented in the UCD High Achievers awards.
A further 13 Westmeath students, along with two scholarship recipients, were recognised as UCD High Achievers - students who scored over 540 points in their Leaving Certificate. This year, 527 first years entered the ranks of the UCD High Achievers and their accomplishment will be recorded on their degree transcript when they graduate.
The UCD High Achievers from Westmeath, representing a total of eight schools, were: Karen Connolly and Enda Fagan from Colaiste Mhuire in Mullingar; Grainne Ahern, Dairine Dolan, Iseult Flynn, and Rachel Gallagher from Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone; Fiachra Fallon from St Aloysius School, Athlone; Sarah Faulkner and Roisin Mac Dermott from Loreto College, Mullingar; James Fearon and Soren Marl from Wilson’s Hospital in Multyfarnham; Emma Harney from St Josephs College in Athlone; Aoife Hyland from St Joseph's Secondary School in Mullingar; and scholarship recipients Mark Jordan and Sean Murphy from St Finians College in Mullingar.
“Almost 25 per cent of all Leaving Cert students who achieve over 540 points come to UCD,” says Dr Philip Nolan, Deputy President of UCD. “While degrees such as Medicine and Law command high points because of demand for places, we have high point students across all our degrees.
“Whereas the Entrance Scholarships and High Achiever Awards acknowledge the academic calibre of our students, the sports, choral, orchestra, and Bord na Gaeilge scholarships reflect the diversity of talent that we have here at the university.
“We are delighted to see so many students from Westmeath coming to UCD and would encourage students to visit the campus on the open days on Friday and Saturday December 5 and 6.”
