Our Scholars
What distinguishes Uversity's Scholars is their commitment to being transformed and transforming others as a result of the Scholarship and educational experience.
Meet Our Scholars
These brief profiles of Uversity’s Scholars provide an indication of their diverse experiences, locations, and disciplines. They are unified by their inspirational ambition and determination.
Ciara Hicks
Hayden Nightingale
Karen Horan
Michelle Murray
Octavian Visan
Patrick Lynch
Ciara Hicks
Ciara worked in the gaming sector prior to returning to education initially at the Cork College of Commerce. After her degree, Ciara intends to complete a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She eventually wants to “work as a mental health professional in Cork City in the public sector and provide therapies and support to people who need it and improve people’s quality of life.”
Hayden Nightingale
Hayden was motivated to return to education when he gave up his job to move back home to help care for his mother. Knowing that he “wasn’t living up to his potential” and wanted to find a career he had a passion for, he enrolled on Belfast Metropolitan College’s Access Diploma in Mathematics and Computing. After his degree, Hayden may pursue a Master’s in Corporate Governance and hopes to specialise “in the programming development side of the IT industry and more long term work on a self-employed basis and develop my own company.”
Karen Horan
Karen was brought up in a working class community and experienced the difficulties faced by the community in relation to equal justice. By working for Inclusion Ireland she built up skills in information provision. She went onto volunteer as a Citizen Information Officer, where she developed a passionate interest in Law. She recently joined the National Advocacy Service as the National Administrator where she works full-time while completing her degree. Karen intends to use her legal knowledge to give back to the community that has given her so much.
Michelle Murray
Michelle’s passion is for animal welfare, particularly horses. In 2016, she set up a project to support equine health and education with the Kildare Traveller Action group. She subsequently completed a Community Development & Leadership course prior to enrolling on her degree. She recently completed a Level 7 Certificate in Youth Studies at Maynooth University. Her ultimate aim is to set up a mobile equine health unit to help horse owners in disadvantaged and rural communities that struggle to access veterinary care.
Octavian Visan
Octavian worked for many years as a Hotel Receptionist prior to setting up his own tennis equipment business in 2014. The onset of ill health motivated him to further his education and change career direction. He has completed a Level 6 Business Administration course along with extra modules in Maths and Computerised Accounts. His work placement in Cora Systems allowed him to further develop his existing design and communication skills. With his degree, Octavian intends to start a career in Digital Marketing and open his own business in the future.
Patrick Lynch
Due to the onset of a degenerative back disease, Patrick had to cease being a self-employed carpenter. As he is also a musician, Patrick decided to pursue this alternative career path. He hopes to equip himself “with a qualification relevant to a career in music, arts and media” and to continue to develop his own creative ambitions as an artist.
Laura Mahon
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology AnimationLaura Mahon
Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology
AnimationBecoming seriously ill in 2012 motivated Laura to re-evaluate her life, identify what is truly important and motivated her to pursue her lifelong dream to work in animation and illustration. Over two years she completed a Level 5 course in Art & Design in preparation for a Bachelor’s Degree. She also volunteered with the Carlow Arts Festival. Laura is committed to creating characters and worlds in which people can find their escape during her degree and future career in the field.
Laura O’Connor
Laura returned to education at the age of 32. In hopes to make her daughter and mother proud of her. She wanted to be a positive role model in her daughter’s life and to show others within her family and community that through education you can change your life in a positive way. She completed an access diploma at Galway university. This gave her the confidence to then go on to do a Bachelor of Arts Degree. To pursue a career in teaching. To help children learn in a positive way no matter what their learning difficulties are. Sence going back to education her life has changed for the better. She is very thankful and grateful beyond words that the Uversity gave her a scholarship, this has given her the opportunity to help others and hopes that one day she can give back to Uversity the way it has helped her.
Lauren Bickerdike
University College Cork MidwiferyLauren Bickerdike
University College Cork
MidwiferyI had always assumed I would go to college after school, but things went differently and I went travelling instead. It was never far from my mind that this was something I hadn’t achieved yet. When I came home I worked in the disability services and loved working and caring for people. I had always been amazed by Midwifery, but never in a million years believed I could do it. As I got older, life experience made me a bit more confident in myself and I decided to try. I didn’t make it the first year that I tried but I upped my game the second time round and got into UCC. I am now in my third year and I am living my dream! The support from Uversity has been absolutely essential to my progress because it afforded me the ability to put all I can into college without spreading myself too thinly. The last few years have easily been the best yet! I am so grateful that I am where I am and I am so excited for what’s next!
Lauren Crossley
Stranmillis College Early Childhood StudiesLauren Crossley
Stranmillis College
Early Childhood StudiesLauren has always had “an interest in education” and becoming a teacher. Since 2016, she has been able to pursue this ambition by securing employment as a Preschool Nursery & Special Education Needs Assistant. She has also completed a Foundation Degree in Early Childhood Studies with Southern Regional College. After her Bachelor’s Degree she intends to secure a Postgraduate Certificate in Education even if it means being the “oldest primary school teaching graduate.”
Lauren Fitzpatrick
Lauren has a rich background in the hairdressing industry, spanning 18 years, where she cultivated a deep interest in people and their experiences. In 2021, she embarked on a new academic journey by completing an Access course at the University of Galway. She is now pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Social Science, aligning her career with her interests in politics, policy and sustainability. The transition from a hands on trade to the academic study of social issues demonstrates her dedication to understanding and contributing to the broader societal context.
Leanne Farrell
University College Dublin Arts, History & PoliticsLeanne Farrell
University College Dublin
Arts, History & PoliticsLeanne is a qualified hairdresser who always wanted to study History & Politics. She has a burning desire to learn more and be in a university with other people who are motivated to be challenged and to learn. She completed University College Dublin’s Access Programme and intends to progress onto post-graduate studies and one day third level teaching.
Leanne Lowry
Maynooth University Community StudiesLeanne Lowry
Maynooth University
Community StudiesAlthough Leanne left school early, she subsequently completed her Leaving Certificate, a post Leaving Certificate course and a Higher National Diploma in Social Studies. Leanne currently works part-time in a community development project in the Liberties area of Dublin, but knows that she has room to grow as a person and a professional. She has chosen her particular course of study because she has always been a ‘people’ person, attracted to people, interested in making connections with others, wanting to understand, and learn from others, and almost view the world from another perspective.
Lee McMahon
University of Limerick ArtsLee McMahon
University of Limerick
ArtsLee is a first year student at the University of Limerick and lone parent of a young boy with autism and other complex needs. He is currently enrolled on the BA Arts programme where he is studying Psychology and English Literature. Upon completing his degree, Lee plans to enrol on a PHD Programme in Educational and Child Psychology, this is so he can eventually provide affordable, means-tested private autism diagnoses and early intervention for children from families who usually couldn’t afford such a service.
The Scholarships
Uversity advertises and awards Higher Education Scholarships to Adult Learners to enrol on a Bachelor’s Degree for the first time