Each year, DCU Educational Trust awards a number of memorial and endowed scholarships, named for past students, staff and friends of the university. Scholarships include merit awards for academic excellence, support for postgraduate research, sport scholarships and scholarships that widen participation in higher education.
The Orla Benson Memorial Scholarship: In 1996, the family and friends of Orla Benson founded the Orla Benson Memorial Scholarship in loving memory of Orla; a graduate of the Biotechnology Class of 1995 who sadly passed away in the summer months before her graduation. This €2,500 scholarship is awarded on an annual basis to a postgraduate student demonstrating outstanding potential in the field of Biotechnology. Since its inception, this scholarship has been instrumental in forging collaborations, disseminating research, and ultimately making breakthroughs in areas from cancer research to ecotoxicology. Application information is provided to qualifying students by DCU School of Biotechnology.
The Ray Comiskey Memorial Scholarship in Jazz: Ray Comiskey (1937-2019) was a well-known Irish Times journalist who was renowned for his writing about arts and culture, and in particular about jazz. Through his writings and engagement with the national and international arts community, he supported established and emerging musicians alike, with characteristic open-mindedness to different musical approaches. Each year, a memorial medal and €1,000 prize are awarded in Ray’s memory to the highest placed final year student of Jazz Performance.
The Colm Delves Memorial Scholarship: Colm Delves was a highly respected business leader and alumnus of DCU Business School, who served as CEO of Digicel from 2005 to 2018. Regarded as an inspirational leader with considerable commercial acumen, Colm was also known for his humility, his interest in developing talent, and as a person who believed passionately in giving back. The Colm Delves Memorial Scholarship was established by Digicel in 2021 in memory of their friend and colleague. This scholarship offers financial support of €2,000 to an Access student pursuing a Master’s in DCU Business School. Information is provided to qualifying students by DCU Access.
The James Downey Memorial Prize: The late James Downey was a well-known national newspaper journalist and columnist who worked for many years on the Irish Times and then on the Irish Independent. The James Downey Memorial Prize is awarded to the highest placed student on DCU’s MA in Journalism programme.
The Frank Durkan Memorial Scholarship: In November 2008, DCU established the Frank Durkan Memorial Scholarship through the support of family and friends of Frank. This scholarship provides financial support for Access students from Frank Durkan’s native County Mayo. Through the DCU Access Programme, every student who enters DCU via the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) qualifies for financial support.
The Veronica Guerin Memorial Scholarship was established by DCU’s School of Communications and Mediahuis Ireland (formerly Independent News & Media) in memory of investigative journalist Veronica Guerin, who was murdered in 1996. The scholarship allows two DCU journalism students to complete their work experience placements in the United States with the Arizona State University’s Washington Bureau of the Cronkite School of Journalism. Further information is available from DCU School of Communications.
The Pino Harris Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of the late Robert ‘Pino’ Harris. Founder of The Harris Group, Robert is remembered as a business leader who revolutionised the Irish transportation industry, and for his philanthropy. Each year, this scholarship provides financial support for a student pursuing an Engineering degree through the DCU Access Programme.
The Charles J Haughey Memorial Scholarships: To commemorate Charles Haughey’s life and career, DCU Educational Trust announced the establishment of a memorial scholarship endowment in 2008. This endowment, established through the generous support of friends who wished to honour Mr Haughey’s legacy, funds the Charles J Haughey Memorial Scholarships, supporting students attending DCU from the Northside Partnership area. This scholarship fund provides financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
The Hough and Lydon Family Memorial Scholarship: PJ Hough (CA ’86 and CA ’90) and Mar Lydon (CA ’86) are proud to honour their parents with this scholarship for a DCU Access student pursuing a degree in STEM. This scholarship provides financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
The Aidan McDonnell Memorial Scholarship was established by the telecommunications company Vilicom Ltd in honour of Aidan McDonnell from Ballina in County Mayo, who passed away in June 2006. The Aidan McDonnell Memorial Scholarship provides for an annual scholarship on the DCU Access Programme for a student from County Mayo.
The Ger McDonnell Memorial Scholarship: Ger McDonnell, a graduate of the DCU School of Electronic Engineering, became the first Irish person to scale K2 when he reached the summit in 2008. Ger’s heroic life is celebrated through the Ger McDonnell Memorial Scholarship fund here at DCU. The fund provides for an annual student scholarship on the DCU Access Programme.
The Stephen Moran Music Memorial Scholarship: Stephen Moran was a talented business graduate who went on to enjoy a promising career in industry, before his untimely passing. Stephen’s mother, Louise, created the Stephen Moran Music Memorial Scholarship in 2020 in keeping with Stephen’s enjoyment of music. The Stephen Moran Music Memorial Scholarship provides for an annual scholarship on the DCU Access Programme for a student studying an undergraduate music course.
The Volkswagen Group Ireland Stephen Moran Memorial Access Scholarship: Stephen Moran was a graduate of DCU Business School who sadly passed away in 2017 at the young age of 27. After completing an INTRA work placement with Volkswagen during the course of his studies, Stephen returned to the company following graduation to build a promising career before his untimely passing. He is fondly remembered by his colleagues in Volkswagen Group Ireland, who created the Stephen Moran Memorial Scholarship to honour his memory. This scholarship fund provides financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
The Paddy Moriarty Memorial Scholarship: The Paddy Moriarty Memorial Chair and Scholarship was established in the School of Law and Government at DCU in 2001. Paddy Moriarty was a distinguished public servant, with a career spanning ESB, RTÉ and as Chair of the National College of Industrial Relations. Known by his close friends as ‘Paddy Mo’, he was well loved in his home county of Kerry. This financial scholarship is awarded annually to a qualifying doctoral student in DCU School of Law and Government. Information is available from DCU School of Law and Government.
The TJ O’Driscoll Memorial Aviation Scholarship: Dr TJ (Tim) O’Driscoll, was a former Director General of Bord Fáilte, the Irish Tourist Board (1956 – 1971), and was the first Chairman of Córas Tráchtála. Dr O’Driscoll, who died in 1998 at the age of 90, made an extraordinary contribution to the development of the modern Irish State and did so with panache and style. This scholarship is supported by the daa. This scholarship fund provides undergraduate support through the DCU Access Programme to a student studying Aviation Management in DCU.
The TJ O’Driscoll Memorial Postgraduate Scholarship: The TJ O’Driscoll Memorial Postgraduate Scholarship is a financial scholarship of €2,500 for DCU Access students pursuing Master’s-level studies in DCU. Application information is provided to qualifying students by DCU Access.
The Maureen O’Farrell Memorial Scholarship: Originally a trained nurse, Maureen focused her energies on her family for much of her life. She was an ardent believer in social justice and the power of education and impressed those values on her three sons. This scholarship in support of the DCU Access Programme was established in 2022 by her family to honour her memory and passion for education.
The Feargal Quinn Memorial Scholarship: Feargal Quinn was a leading Irish businessman who founded the Superquinn supermarket chain, and who also served as an independent senator in Seanad Éireann from 1993 to 2016. The Quinn Family foundation is proud to support this scholarship fund, which provides financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
The John Thompson Memorial Scholarship: DCU and the family and friends of the late John Thompson established the John Thompson Marketing and Media Scholarship in 2008 to honour the memory of John Thompson, former Chief Executive of Associated Newspapers Ireland and Managing Director of The Star. This Master’s level scholarship aims to foster the connection between journalism and marketing. Each year, this scholarship fund covers the fees of one MSc Digital Marketing Student. Application information is available from DCU Business School.
The Teresa Twohill Memorial Scholarship was established in 2018 in memory of Teresa Twohill; a woman who dedicated her life to broadening access to the Irish language, within and beyond the education system. Teresa, a scholarship recipient herself, was a primary school teacher who was part of the Irish language revival movement that sought to make Irish language fluency accessible to all children. Teresa opened one of the first Irish language preschools outside of the Gaeltacht and was responsible for establishing and supporting Naíonraí across Leinster. This scholarship fund provides financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
The Paddy J Wright Memorial Scholarship fund was established in 2008 in honour of the Chairman Emeritus of the DCU Educational Trust, Dr Patrick J Wright. Paddy’s loved ones created this fund to support North Dublin students through the DCU Access Scholarship Programme. This scholarship fund provides financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
The Paddy J Wright Sport Memorial Scholarship was established to recognise successful Dublin Gaelic footballers who attend DCU. Information is available to qualifying students through DCU Sport.
Endowed Alumni Scholarship: The Endowed Alumni Scholarship widens access to third level education by providing students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Deloitte Access Scholarship: Created by professional services network Deloitte, the Deloitte Access Scholarship was established to support greater access to education. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Colm and Paula Delves Access Scholarship: This scholarship was established in 2018 thanks to the generosity of Colm and Paula Delves. Colm Delves is fondly remembered as an inspirational business leader and a firm believer in giving back. By supporting Access scholarships for students in DCU Business School, the Delves family continues to foster wider participation in higher education. This scholarship fund provides financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Irish Public Bodies Access Scholarship: The Irish Public Bodies Access Scholarship was created thanks to the Irish-owned insurance company’s dedication to widening participation in higher education. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Frank Keane BMW Access Scholarship: The Frank Keane BMW Access Scholarship was established to support and celebrate students who pursue a degree in science. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Paul Kerley Access Scholarship: Created thanks to the vision of entrepreneur Paul Kerley, this scholarship was established to foster equal access to higher education. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Leo Mohan Access Scholarship: Created by Monaghan entrepreneur Leo Mohan, the Leo Mohan Access Scholarship helps to enable wider access to education for students from Monaghan. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Rhona O’Connor Access Scholarship: Established thanks to the generosity of Rhona O’Connor, this scholarship supports DCU Access students to pursue a degree in STEM. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Marianna O’Dwyer Access Scholarship: The Marianna O’Dwyer Access Scholarship was created by Irish-American philanthropist, lawyer and educator Marianna O’Dwyer to recognise and celebrate women in law. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Endowed Larry and Pauline Quinn Access Scholarship: Established thanks to the generosity of Larry and Pauline Quinn, this scholarship was created to support DCU students from North Dublin secondary schools. This scholarship fund provides students with financial support through the DCU Access Programme.
Strain-Goldman Sachs Endowed Women in STEM Postgraduate Scholarship: The Strain-Goldman Sachs Endowed Women in STEM Postgraduate Scholarship was created to support exceptional female Access students studying for a postgraduate degree in the area of STEM. Each year, this scholarship fund provides financial support of €2,000 to a postgraduate student nominated by DCU Access.
