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.
Rowan Williams Huber
Munster Technological University Photography and New MediaRowan Williams Huber
Munster Technological University
Photography and New MediaWhen Rowan finished secondary school, he didn’t know what career to pursue. He tried many different working sectors but knew he need to make a change. Rowan has always loved being creative and taking pictures in particular as a hobby.
He returned to education in 2022 to complete an QQI Level 5 in Creative Digital Media and the following year did a QQI Level 6 in TV and Film at Kinsale Campus. In the two years being at the college, Rowan enjoyed taking photos for the college’s social media and the theatre performances there.
Rowan’s experiences and the support at the college has motivated him to start his new adventure in Photography and New Media at Munster Technological University. His future ambition is to start his own business as a freelance photographer.
Roxana Tatoiu
National College of IrelandRoxana Tatoiu
National College of Ireland
Having worked in diverse industries, Roxana faced a setback during the COVID-19 pandemic when she lost her job. This emphasised the pivotal role of education in securing better employment opportunities, motivating her to return to education. She successfully completed a QQI Level 5 English and IT course at Rathmines College before advancing to a QQI Level 6 Advanced Business qualification. These educational courses have prepared her to pursue a (BA) in Business at the National College of Ireland. Post-graduation, Roxana is committed to continuous growth, envisioning a positive impact on communities. Her goal is to contribute to community connections and support local businesses
Ryan Hennessy
SETU Carlow Applied Addiction Studies & Community DevelopmentRyan Hennessy
SETU Carlow
Applied Addiction Studies & Community DevelopmentRyan began his education journey in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, having previously left school without a leaving certificate. He started with a level 5 in Social Studies at Liberties College, having been inspired to pursue a career that would allow him to help people during my time vlunteering to help people suffering from homelessness. After completing my Level 5, Ryan began to look at third level options but knew this would be a struggle for him as a single parent who was in and out of work. He was then informed about Uversity and the supports that they offer. Ryan applied to do a BA Degree in Addiction Studies and Community Development with An Cosan, a community group for adult learners in Tallaght, Dublin. Three years, a lot of late nights, and some tears later, he is now a graduate of SETU. Though there were many times throughout this education journey that he was ready to quit, two things kept him moving forward. The want to inspire people who he met that they too can achieve the goals they set, and to get a picture in his graduation gown with his daughter and his parchment.
Samantha Barry
Samantha returned to education in 2021 to complete at QQI level 5 in psychology and social studies. Her life experiences, and a desire to make a positive change led her to undertake a degree in Social Work. Samantha hopes to empower individuals and groups to overcome challenges in both their lives, and communities.
Samiha Hsouna-EP-Hamza
Samiha was a busy mum looking after her three young children. Her passion for science and education gave her the courage to return to education and challenge herself. She enrolled in further education. She gained access to her course through the Turn to Teach Foundation Access course. She was particularly interested in maths and biology and intends to continue volunteering with the ST Vincent de Paul Society while completing her degree.
Sandra Pilszak
Maynooth University Computer Science through ScienceSandra Pilszak
Maynooth University
Computer Science through ScienceSandra decided to work rather than go to college after her Leaving Certificate. Over the years, having taken a Level 5 Business course and a Level 6 Software Development course, she has discovered a subject that she loved that was “challenging, fascinating and brilliant.” Ultimately, Sandra hopes to open her own business once she has gained some experience in the sector.
Sarah Cummins
Trinity College Dublin Clinical Speech and Language StudiesSarah Cummins
Trinity College Dublin
Clinical Speech and Language StudiesAfter 22 years in finance, Sarah took a career break and completed a Level 6 in Special Needs Assisting. Within one year of completing the course, Sarah bid farewell to the financial world and embarked on a fulfilling and most enjoyable career as a Special Needs Assistant in a primary school. Her role as an SNA ignited a passion in her to return to education. In 2024 Sarah completed the Trinity Access Programme. Successful completion of this course enabled Sarah to achieve her place on a degree in Clinical Speech and Language Studies at Trinity College, Dublin. Sarah’s goal is to empower children’s lives by assisting with their communication and swallowing difficulties. Her ultimate goal is to ensure that every child is understood.
Sarah McNamara
Limerick Institute of Technology Social Care WorkSarah McNamara
Limerick Institute of Technology
Social Care WorkSarah returned to education by taking night classes in Psychology and Mental Health Awareness before enrolling on her degree. She has also volunteered locally. Her “dream is to gain the qualifications and training necessary to work supporting women surviving trauma and abuse.” She hopes “to inspire other people to find the power within themselves to transform their lives.”
The Scholarships
Uversity advertises and awards Higher Education Scholarships to Adult Learners to enrol on a Bachelor’s Degree for the first time