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.
Annemarie Fleming
Waterford Institute of Technology HorticultureAnnemarie Fleming
Waterford Institute of Technology
HorticultureAfter more than a decade as a full-time mum, Annemarie yearned for the education she did not have the opportunity earlier in her life. An initial course in horticulture opened new educational and career possibilities which led to work experience in the industry and acceptance onto the degree in horticulture. After graduation, Annemarie has several interests she may pursue including starting a horticulture therapy business and conducting research in plant genetics.
Anthony Nee
National University of Ireland Galway ArtsAnthony Nee
National University of Ireland Galway
ArtsHaving left school after his Junior Certificate, Alan returned to education in 2018 when he enrolled on the National University of Ireland Galway’s Access Programme. Anthony plans “to be a social worker and give back to people who are going through situations I have been through. I plan to work with homeless charities and addiction centres… I want to inspire and show that it doesn’t matter what our socio-economic backgrounds are…nothing is stopping us from being whatever we want to be.”
Brad Bennett
National College of Ireland Human Resource ManagementBrad Bennett
National College of Ireland
Human Resource ManagementHaving worked in retail for many years and motivated by his mother’s returning to full-time eduation, Brad returned to education to pursue a career in Human Resource Management. He completed a Level 5 qualification at Ballsbridge College of Further Education and was chosen for an Erasmus Work Placement in Amsterdam that further confirmed that human resources is the career path he wants to pursue.
Brian Daly
Technological University Dublin Networking TechnologiesBrian Daly
Technological University Dublin
Networking TechnologiesBeing one of the “first people in the country to get a cochlear implant,” Brian had the “first real encounter for how technology can help people in their everyday lives.” Brian worked for twelve years as a Baggage Handler in Dublin Airport but believed that he could “achieve more and have a much more fulfilling career with a third level qualification in technology.” Having quit his job, Brian enrolled on Technological University Dublin’s Access Course in September 2018. Following his degree Brian intends to gain employment in this field and “contribute more to helping people in their daily lives through technology.”
Caleb Young
Queen’s University Belfast Civil EngineeringCaleb Young
Queen’s University Belfast
Civil EngineeringHaving left school at 16, Caleb held a variety of jobs but his last job made him realise he needed “to make a change… I now knew I wanted a career in something that interested me and that I got job satisfaction from.” In September 2018 he enrolled on the Access Diploma in Foundation Studies Engineering in Belfast Metropolitan College after successfully completed the Maths General Certificate of Secondary Education in June 2018. After graduation, Caleb intends “to become a fully chartered engineer with the Institute of Civil Engineers.”
Chloe Brophy
Ulster University Speech and Language TherapyChloe Brophy
Ulster University
Speech and Language TherapyChloe was exposed to Speech and Language Therapy through one of her family members and a work placement in secondary school. While she trained and work as a chef for several years, Chloe has been actively involved with Special Olympics firstly as a volunteer and then as trained coach. These experiences informed her decision to qualify as a Speech and Language Therapist. To prepare for university she enrolled on South Eastern Regional College’s Access Course in 2018 while continuing to work as a chef. In the future, Chloe hopes to use her educational and life experience in the education sector to work with children with additional needs.
Christina Flynn
Cork Institute of Technology Fine ArtChristina Flynn
Cork Institute of Technology
Fine ArtChristina previously worked in retail management, marketing and with local council and tourism organisations. After the birth of her son, she enrolled in a local part-time art course that provided satisfaction and health benefits. Christina studied Art, Craft and Design in Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa for two years to prepare for her degree course. With her qualification, Christina wants to share her creativity with people to help them manage their anxiety and mental health.
Ciara Hicks
University College Cork Applied PsychologyCiara Hicks
University College Cork
Applied PsychologyCiara 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.”
The Scholarships
Uversity advertises and awards Higher Education Scholarships to Adult Learners to enrol on a Bachelor’s Degree for the first time