The School of Computer Science and Statistics is pleased to announce the award of the inaugural Professor John G. Byrne Scholarships and Nóirín Plunkett Scholarship for Trinity Access students undertaking undergraduate degree programmes in the School.  The inaugural Professor John G. Byrne Scholarships were awarded to Diana Hrisovescu, Junior Freshman in Computer Science and Business and Faith Olopadef, Junior Freshman in Computer Science. The Nóirín Plunkett Scholarship was awarded to Grace Bokunde, Junior Freshman in Computer Science.

three students standing beside Provost Dr. Linda Doyle for winning the Prof John G. Byrne & Nóirín Plunkett Scholarship Awards

From Left to Right: Grace Bokunde, Provost, Dr Linda Doyle, Diana Hrisovescu and Faith Olopadef

The Professor John G. Byrne Scholarship is an endowed scholarship fund that has been created with the generous support of Trinity alumni and friends, and the School wishes to extend sincere thanks to the supporters of this initiative.

 

Professor Byrne

 

Professor John G. Byrne, Head of the Department of Computer Science 1969-1987 and 1990-2001


Professor John G. Byrne, the founder and long-time head of Trinity’s Department of Computer Science died in 2016. Professor Byrne was a distinguished computer scientist, dedicated public servant and Senior Fellow at Trinity. Such was the impact of his career, he is affectionately known by many as the “father of computing in Ireland”.

Throughout his long career in Trinity, Professor John G. Byrne was passionate about nurturing talent and supporting students. The creation of the Professor John G. Byrne Scholarships salutes this passion.

 Nóirín Plunkett graduated in 2007 with First Class Honours from the BA (Moderatorship) Computer Science, Linguistics and a Language (CSLL). Nóirín passed away eight years later in 2015 from natural causes. Nóirín worked for Microsoft and Google and was appointed the first female Vice-President and Board member of Apache Software Foundation. Nóirín’s parents Dr Patrick Plunkett and Bernie O’Callaghan created an endowed scholarship in Nóirín’s honour for female students to study in the field of Computer Science and Statistics, via Trinity Access.From Left to Right: Bernie O’Callaghan, Grace Bokunde, Dr Patrick Plunkett and Rosie Plunkett

Scholship Bernie O’Callaghan, Dr Patrick Plunkett and Rosie Plunkett

From Left to Right: Bernie O’Callaghan, Grace Bokunde, Dr Patrick Plunkett and Rosie Plunkett

The Professor John G. Byrne Scholarships are administered by Trinity Access and the selection process was overseen by the Prof John Byrne Steering Group, which includes Prof Caroline Brophy (Chair and Global Director in SCSS), Brian Caulfield (alumni representative), Prof Vinny Cahill (SCSS), Prof Brendan Tangney (SCSS & Trinity Access) and Sinéad Pentony (TDA). The School wishes to thank Trinity Access, Trinity Development and Alumni, and the Steering Group for their work in establishing and administering these scholarships.

The three scholarship awardees standing beside three academics from the School of Computer Science and Statistics and the Head of School

 Left to Right: Prof Vinny Cahill, Grace Bokunde, Diana Hrisovescu, Prof & Head of School of Computer Science Statistics, Gregory O’Hare, Faith Olopadef, Prof Caroline Brophy and Prof Brendan Tangney

Posted by: Elaine Noone, External Relations Unit, School of Computer Science and Statistics.