Thirty-six students starting Stem courses in college were awarded Naughton Foundation scholarships worth €20,000 each on Saturday.
The scholarships are funded by the Naughton Foundation, which was started by founder of electrical goods firm GlenDimplex Martin Naughton and his wife Carmel.
The awards were presented to the 36 students by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Trinity College Dublin's biomedical sciences institute.
The scholarships are awarded to students who have an aptitude for science, engineering, technology or mathematics (Stem), and have enrolled in a Stem-based third-level course.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the achievements of past scholars were an example of what can be achieved when people are supported in education.
“That’s exactly the same philosophy that guides the Government today, to build in Ireland a Republic of opportunity where absolutely everyone has an opportunity to be the best they can be, everyone gets a fair go. In particular every child has the opportunity to grow to meet their potential,” he said.
Taoiseach Varadkar said the teachers and parents who supported the award winners also deserved praise. “It took me perhaps until I reached my 30s until I realised quite how much my parents did for me. I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today if not for them,” he said.
Community
Speaking at the event chief executive of GlenDimplex Fergal Naughton said the scholars had entered a community of current and past recipients. Members of the Naughton family run the foundation, and the scholarship programme.
Trinity Provost Patrick Prendergast said the scholars had been given “the best possible start” to a university education.
Prof Prendergast said the rising cost of studying at third-level in Ireland was a serious issue. “No one of potential should turn away from third-level because of financial concerns,” he said.
“In Ireland I think we must recognise most costs for undergraduate education are borne by the State, but students are required to share some of the costs, and of course there is also accommodation to consider, for some students the expense can seem prohibitive.”
The president of University College Dublin (UCD) Andrew Deeks attended the ceremony, as well as Dublin City University president Brian MacCraith.
The annual scholarship awards are traditionally a point of rivalry between UCD and Trinity, to see each year which college had more Naughton scholars apply to study with them. This year 14 of the scholars enrolled to study in Trinity, and 10 in UCD.
One scholarship recipient, Jack Dunne from St Michael’s College in Dublin 4, had to leave the ceremony early to play for Trinity in a colours rugby match against UCD. It was something Fergal Naughton – a Trinity alumni – said might not have been facilitated if Mr Dunne was leaving to line-up for UCD.
The awards are in their 10th year and over the last decade the Foundation has given out €4 million in scholarships to students studying Stem courses.
