We are delighted to have facilitated four scholarship opportunities this year through partnerships with The Gallaher Trust and The James Kane Foundation. Congratulations to the successful applicants who will be pursuing their academic passions at university this autumn.

Gallaher Trust Scholarship Recipients

This is our second year working with The Gallaher Trust, a charity that promotes job creation, skills development and assistance to disadvantaged adults in the wider Ballymena community.

In 2022, we established a scholarship with them supporting two students per year who wish to study a STEM or business subject at either Queen’s University, Belfast, or Ulster University. This award gives the recipients a £1,500 technology package and £2,000 per year for course fees. Thanks to this year’s scholarship, two young women from Ballymena have the financial support needed to continue on to higher education.

Elizabeth Hanna of Ballymena Academy is headed to Queens University to study Agriculture Technology. Having grown up immersed in the daily workings of her family’s dairy farm, Beth has cultivated a deep love for animal husbandry and aspires to build a career in agricultural science. Her daily hands-on duties caring for young calves, overseeing robotic milkers, and assisting with health treatments for cows and sheep have provided invaluable real-world experience.

Her participation in the three-year ABP Angus Youth Challenge allowed her to advance her skills in teamwork, interviewing, public speaking, and implementing agricultural technologies. With a proven dedication to the field through both her upbringing and extracurriculars, Beth is excited to delve further into the many facets of agriculture at the university level.

Jemma Stirling of Ballymena Academy will be studying Computer Science at Ulster University this autumn. Showcasing both artistic flair and strong technological capabilities, Jemma has won multiple awards for her talents over the years.

Her A* GCSE Art and Design grade proves her attention to detail, while her Digital Technology and Maths prowess provides crucial foundations for computer science. Independent certification in game design has also expanded Jemma’s skills in coding and problem-solving.

A well-rounded student, Jemma spent nine years in Girl’s Brigade developing essential life skills and joined her local football club to build relationships and teamwork abilities. Jemma is eager to creatively apply her array of talents to the dynamic field of computer science at university.

The James Kane Foundation Recipients

The James Kane Foundation aims to advance education via grantmaking and training. We teamed up with them to offer scholarships to students in the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon areas who plan to study towards a STEM degree. This award is for £2,000 per year up to a maximum of three years. We’re thrilled to announce the first two recipients!

Tara O’Hagan of St. Ronan’s College was awarded a scholarship to pursue Computer Science at Queen’s University Belfast. With a lifelong fascination with computer technologies and their societal impacts, Tara is thrilled to further her studies.

Her high achievement in A-Level Digital Technology exhibits strong coding and website development skills. Tara has also demonstrated exceptional problem-solving and time management by juggling academics, work, and hobbies. Her technological pursuits have stoked her excitement to continue expanding her computer science knowledge.

Aidan Reilly of Lismore Comprehensive School is off to study Physics at Queen’s University this year. A gifted musician who has mastered piano up to Grade 5 level, Aidan impressively balances his artistic talents with a passion for science. His analytical thinking, logic, and knack for solving problems make him well-suited to excel in physics. Aidan has also shown great leadership as a STEM Ambassador for his school, guiding younger students in hands-on science activities.

Despite being registered partially sighted and diagnosed with ASD, Aidan has persevered to achieve top grades and a strong school attendance record. Aidan now looks forward to applying his well-rounded abilities and determination to achieve success in physics research.

Stephen Marks, who manages the scholarship programme, remarked, “I am thrilled to have been able to continue our Gallaher Trust scholarship this year and equally delighted to add The James Kane Foundation as a partner in a new scholarship.

At Supporting Communities, we are passionate about ensuring these scholarships reach those most in need, and I was pleased to facilitate a rigorous application and interview process for both funds. The four young people selected are very well-deserving candidates indeed!”

We wholeheartedly congratulate these exceptional students on earning their well-deserved scholarships. We wish them the very best as they embark on their academic journeys this autumn to cultivate their passions at university and beyond.

The future shines bright for these four talented scholars!