Castlebar woman honoured for academic achievements

CASTLEBAR woman Louise Sexton has been awarded a graduation certificate by a charity which provides scholarships for mature students.

Louise Sexton was honoured at a special ceremony at the Royal College of Surgeons to celebrate the third-level academic achievements of students supported by Uversity.

Uversity is a registered charity which provides scholarships for mature students from less advantaged backgrounds to achieve a bachelor’s degree in approved colleges and universities across the island of Ireland. This year, 22 students were awarded graduation certificates upon completion of their bachelor’s degrees, including Ms Sexton.

Having graduated from University of Galway (UG) with a Bachelor of Arts, (Honours) Social Care degree, Ms Sexton served ten years in the Irish Defence Forces before returning to education in 2019 to complete a Youth and Community Development Practice Diploma in NUI, Galway.

Ms Sexton is particularly interested in the advocacy and rights of those most vulnerable in Irish society and works and volunteers in the area of disability and housing for the elderly. She is now attending Atlantic Technology University (ATU) in Castlebar, Mayo, studying for a Master’s in Quality and Safety in Social Care.

Uversity scholarships are awarded based on an online written application, a successful interview process and demonstrated financial need. Recipients can choose to pursue a bachelor's degree in any discipline.

There are two levels of financial support available, depending on whether the scholarship recipient has dependent children. Those without dependent children will receive €5,000 per annum for their degree, while those with dependent children are awarded €7,000 per annum.

For further information, please visit www.uversity.org to learn more about the Uversity Scholarship Programme, including how to apply.