Trinity Welcomes Naughton Scholars

Posted on: 28 January 2016

Trinity Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, recently welcomed Trinity students, awardees of the Naughton Foundation Scholarships, and Martin and Carmel Naughton, founders of the Naughton Foundation.

Since being established in 2008, Naughton Foundation Scholarships worth €1.5 million have been presented to 139 remarkable young people in the fields of science, engineering and technology in publically funded third level institutions in Ireland, north and south.

To date, 50 Naughton Scholars are studying, or are alumni of, Trinity.

Supporting academic and innovative excellence in Irish students, this Scholarship Award is an investment in the future of Ireland's reputation as a country with outstanding graduates. Each scholarship is worth €5,000 per annum for each year of a student’s three or four year undergraduate degree.

In 2008 the scheme started in three counties and has continued to expand annually; it now includes 24 counties and plans are afoot for it to become a nationwide scheme, with the inclusion of Dublin and Cork for the first time in 2016.

Commenting on the programme, Martin and Carmel Naughton said: “We are absolutely delighted that our Scholarships will now be a nationwide programme with the expansion to Dublin and Cork. Each year we are amazed to see the calibre of the fine young people who apply to us. It gives us great pleasure to support their STEM studies and we hope it will be of great benefit to them and Ireland in years to come.”

The secondary schools the Naughton Scholars attended also receive a prize of €1,000 towards their school’s science facilities, for their support of these students. More than 100 schools have benefited from this prize to date with some schools receiving it on more than one occasion.

Speaking at the welcome reception, Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, said: “The Naughton Scholarships benefit a diverse group of excellent students and we are privileged to have some of them come to study in Trinity. Martin and Carmel Naughton’s generosity enables them to take full advantage of the student experience and pursue their dreams. I am confident that the Naughton Scholars will make us all proud as they take their student experiences outside the College walls when the time comes.”

Dr Prendergast's full speech can be viewed here.

Trinity Welcomes Naughton Scholars

Posted on: 08 February 2016