Past students, staff and friends of DCU were remembered at a special Memorial Scholarships event in The Helix at DCU this week. Seventeen students were presented with memorial scholarship awards named in honour of 13 individuals who have played a key role in the life of the University and in Irish society. Amongst those honoured through memorial scholarships at the event were journalist Veronica Guerin, former Taoiseach Charles Haughey, leading businessman and philanthropist Dr Tim Mahony of Toyota Ireland and mountaineer Ger McDonnell who became the first Irish person to scale K2 in 2008.
Nathalie Walker, CEO of DCU Educational Trust told gathered attendees:
“This year we are awarding scholarships to 17 students whose talent and dedication are a tribute to those we remember today. The individuals remembered through our memorial scholarships shone brightly in their own lives and made a mark on society, so it is fitting that their legacy will be honoured and live on in the bright and gifted scholarship students assembled here today.”
The 17 scholarship recipients were selected based on their talent and dedication but also according to specific criteria set by scholarship donors. Eleven scholarships were presented to undergraduate students supported by DCU’s Access Programme, which makes third level education accessible to students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and provides financial, academic and personal supports to help students succeed in their studies. A further five scholarships were awarded to support students engaged in postgraduate research or study in fields as diverse as Law, Biotechnology, Marketing, Journalism and International Relations.
Speaking at the event, Seán Trimble, a first year Business Studies student from Coolock explained what it meant to him to receive the Charles J Haughey Memorial Scholarship:
“The financial support from my scholarship has been a huge help. Without it, I would have struggled to buy some of my expensive course textbooks. The donors to my scholarship and DCU’s Access Programme have helped to change my future and also inspired me to help others and give back to my community. I hope that one day, I will be able to help others to achieve their goals as DCU’s donors have helped me to achieve mine.”
This year also saw the establishment of two new scholarships in memory of students and friends of DCU. The Dr Tim Mahony Memorial Scholarship was created by Toyota Ireland in memory of Dr Tim Mahony, one of Ireland’s foremost business figures and a leading philanthropist, whose lifelong love of music, sport, education and Irish culture lay behind his generous support of a vast array of cultural sporting and educational initiatives, including The Helix venue at DCU, where the main auditorium is named ‘The Mahony Hall.’ This new scholarship will support one student per year studying the BA course in Contemporary Jazz and Music Performance at DCU.
The new Volkswagen Group Ireland – Stephen Moran Memorial Scholarship was created by Volkswagen Group Ireland in memory of DCU Business Studies graduate and Volkswagen employee, Stephen Moran who sadly passed away in 2017. This new scholarship will support undergraduate students supported by DCU’s Access Programme.
The full list of DCU Memorial Scholarship awards presented at the event is:
