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.
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.”
Anthony Roe
Trinity College Dublin BotanyAnthony Roe
Trinity College Dublin
BotanyAnthony returned to education as a mature student in 2021 through the Trinity Access Programme. He is pursuing a degree in botany with hopes to “restore the natural landscape of Ireland.”
Aoife Boylan
Social CareAoife Boylan
I went back into education in 2020, where I completed two level five QQI courses which were graphic design and applied social studies. Then I went on to apply for University to gain a BA level eight degree in Social Care Work which I am delighted to say I was accepted into and loving the whole learning experience. From my degree I hope to pursue a career in the Social Care field.
Avril Crosbie
Dundalk Institute of Technology Community Youth WorkAvril Crosbie
Dundalk Institute of Technology
Community Youth WorkAvril returned to college in 2021 as a mature student and completed a PLC in Community Youth Work. She then decided to further her studies and enrolled in Dundalk Institute of Technology and is currently in her third year doing a degree in Community Youth Work. Avril is hoping to pursue a career in Youth Justice when she completes her degree.
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.”
Carla Coleman
English and HistoryCarla Coleman
Carla returned to university through access as a mature student pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in English and History. Having previously worked with children and as a special needs assistant in primary schools and also developing an interest in the Irish language, Carla plans to complete her degree and pursue a masters in primary school teaching. This will enable Carla to pursue a career that will enable her to continue working permanently in a primary school setting using her Irish and engaging in work she finds fulfilling and important.
The Scholarships
Uversity advertises and awards Higher Education Scholarships to Adult Learners to enrol on a Bachelor’s Degree for the first time