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.
Louise Finnegan
Technological University Dublin Social CareLouise Finnegan
Technological University Dublin
Social CareOver the last few years, Louise has whole-heartedly embraced her return to education. She has completed various courses including Technological University Dublin’s Access Programme. In April 2019, she represented Aontas at a European Conference on Adult Learning in Luxembourg. Louise is “hungry to learn more, to gain a professional Degree in Social Work or Social Care and to make a difference to people who have similar backgrounds to me. I want to improve the personal and social lives of people in society.”
Louise Sexton
National University of Ireland Galway Social CareLouise Sexton
National University of Ireland Galway
Social CareLouise served as an infantry soldier in the Irish Defence Forces for over ten years during which time she had the opportunity to serve overseas with United Nations in the Lebanon. Since returning to Ireland from France in 2012, where she lived for over 12 years, Louise has gained experience working in the global online payments industry. Since 2014 she has volunteered with a Dublin based charity providing support to families, advocating for victims while also acting as translator for the organisation, allowing her to liaise with other organisations across Europe. Louise’s goal is to pursue a career as a support worker in the prison or immigration service. She has completed a Diploma in Youth and Community Development Practice while attending a Level 5 Course in Business Administration before enrolling on her degree.
Lukasz Olszewksi
University College Dublin Social Policy & SociologyLukasz Olszewksi
University College Dublin
Social Policy & SociologyLukasz’s return to education in 2011 was interrupted by a debilitating accident. In the last few years, he has taken a range of courses that prepared him for Technological University of Dublin’s Access Course in 2018. Lukasz wants to capitalise on his personal and voluntary experience to “work with social policy or in social care.” His “main goal after graduation is to be key worker or programme coordinator in Salvation Army or Merchants Quay Ireland.”
Maeve Anderson
Ulster University Human NutritionMaeve Anderson
Ulster University
Human NutritionMaeve’s dedication and motivation to develop a career in nutrition is demonstrated by her return to education. Firstly, Maeve completed General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams in Biology and Chemistry in Belfast Metropolitan College before enrolling on South Eastern Regional College’s Access course. She secured work experience with a charity that supports families with children under five years of age. She would like to use her knowledge and experience to work in Health Education, with a particular focus on nutrition for families with young children.
Martha Doyle
Ulster University Computing SystemsMartha Doyle
Ulster University
Computing SystemsMartha completed an Access Diploma in Computers with Business and Multi-Media, while working full-time as a Personal Assistant for the Director of Care in Praxis Care. Over the years her “role became less about administration and more about governance, monitoring and setting up core systems as early alert signs.” Martha is pursuing her degree in Computing Systems to provide benefits to the company as well as the elderly service users because she “wants every person who is in care to be safe and cared for well.”
Martin Trainor
Ulster University Social WorkMartin Trainor
Ulster University
Social WorkMartin returned to education after a 14 year gap “determined to succeed and make myself and my family proud.” In 2017, he enrolled on a Certificate of Higher Education in Social and Behavioural Sciences and in January 2019, he successfully completed the Maths General Certificate of Secondary Education. Martin’s “goal after graduation is to pursue a career as a Social Care Worker.” He “would particularly like to work with young adults… helping them gain access to educational facilities to help them achieve their own goals and ambitions by receiving the support and guidance I was not aware of or received.”
Megan Buckley
University College Cork Social ScienceMegan Buckley
University College Cork
Social ScienceHaving started as an apprentice ten years ago, Megan worked her way up to manager of a florist in Cork City. She also taught floristry on adult education courses, in community centres and primary schools in disadvantaged areas. Over the years she has realised her passion is working with people which led her to research and apply for a Social Science degree. She is particularly interested in using her degree and creative skills in prison or rehabilitation services to change a person’s outlook on life.
Megan Peaches Jennings
Queen’s University Belfast PsychologyMegan Peaches Jennings
Queen’s University Belfast
PsychologyHaving climbed a lot of hills and jumped over a lot of hurdles, Megan is pursuing her passions of psychology and animals. Megan has completed an Access Diploma in Humanities and Social Sciences at Belfast Metropolitan College. She intends to explore the therapeutic benefit of animals in mental health treatment during her degree and qualification as a clinical psychologist.
The Scholarships
Uversity advertises and awards Higher Education Scholarships to Adult Learners to enrol on a Bachelor’s Degree for the first time