Irish Sports & Academic Stars awarded scholarships by IT Carlow. More than 100 talented young students were today awarded sports and academic scholarships by Institute of Technology Carlow.
Ireland’s fastest man Marcus Lawler, all-Ireland camogie champion Edwina Keane, all-Ireland minor hurler Kevin Kelly, Women’s RBS 6 Nations rugby forward Ciara Cooney, Waterford hurling hotshot Colin Dunford, Cork senior footballer Michael Hurley, and US basketball stars Michal Klinger and Jaymiah Bethune - all of whom are students at Institute of Technology Carlow - were recognised as elite sports scholars for their huge contribution to sport. They were amongst 81 students in total who were today awarded gold and elite sports scholarships for the 2016/2017 academic year at a special ceremony, as a result of their exceptional sporting ability.
Now in its 18th year, the Institute’s sports scholarship programme offers a support package and/or bursaries to students of exceptional sporting ability. Sports scholars receive financial and academic support, mentoring, injury rehabilitation, strength and conditioning support, high performance coaching and access to Institute of Technology Carlow’s renowned sports facilities. The number of scholarships offered to students has more than doubled since the programme was introduced in 1999, reflecting Institute of Technology Carlow’s renown as one of the leading third-level sporting institutions in Ireland with a growing academic portfolio of sports programmes. The programme’s elite scholarship strand recognises the Institute’s very best athletes competing at the highest level in their chosen sport.
Congratulating the Sports Scholars on all their achievements, Institute of Technology Carlow President, Dr Patricia Mulcahy, said “The ability of a society to view sport as an expression of its attributes, values and beliefs, is evident in the support our sport stars generate when playing for club, county, province and country. Playing sports is much more than about the physical. It builds character, strategic thinking, analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting and risk taking to name but a few. These are the attributes and abilities that shape society and it is these attributes that are present in abundance in our Sports Scholars that we acknowledge today.”
Such is the value that the Institute of Technology Carlow places on sport participation and success that it is now investing in a new multi-million sports campus at Carlow which will include two additional GAA pitches, including one all-weather surface, two rugby pitches and two soccer pitches along with a full-size running track. Phase 1 of this ambitious project will be completed by 2018.
At an afternoon ceremony at Institute of Technology Carlow’s new Haughton Building, 31 students were awarded academic scholarships. Now in its 13th year, the Institute’s academic scholarship initiative awards an academic scholarship to those students who have attained at least 400 points in their leaving certificate and are now undertaking degree programmes across Institute of Technology Carlow’s various faculties.
Academic scholars from eleven counties were joined by their parents and a school representative for the occasion. One student, Declan Campbell from county Kildare, was eligible for and received two scholarships - an academic scholarship and a sports scholarship for Gaelic football. He is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sport Management.
Congratulating the Academic Scholars, Institute of Technology Carlow President, Dr. Patricia Mulcahy, said “Having navigated your way successfully through your second level education you have now commenced a new journey which will lead to you becoming a member of our global alumni totaling over 50,000. These alumni continue to make their mark in the top pharma, ICT, financial services and engineering companies. This journey will bring you on a path of intellectual and creative development. You will transition to becoming a strong and committed independent learner in charge of your own intellectual path.”
Institute of Technology Carlow consistently features highly in the CAO first preferences for Institutes of Technology, according to the Institute, which sees an annual average of 12,000 students apply for up to 70 Higher Certificate and Degree courses via the CAO. Since its founding in 1970, IT Carlow has generated more than 50,000 graduates. It currently ranks as the fourth largest of Ireland’s 14 Institutes with over 7,000 enrolments.
-ENDS-
For reference: Alma Feeley, IT Carlow
t: 059 9175098/087 8204934 e:alma.feeley@itcarlow.ie
Pic Caption: Declan Campbell from county Kildare today received two scholarships - an academic scholarship and a sports scholarship for Gaelic football – at the academic and sports scholarship ceremonies that took place at Institute of Technology Carlow. He is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sport Management. He is pictured with Dr. Patricia Mulcahy, Registrar David Denieffe and Vice-President of Corporate Affairs Cormac O’Toole