Northern Ireland

More than £350,000 awarded to 100 students through the SSE Airtricity Scholarship Fund

Mark Ennis, Chairman SSE Airtricity and Michael Donaghy, Mechanical Engineering Student from UU
Mark Ennis, Chairman SSE Airtricity and Michael Donaghy, Mechanical Engineering Student from UU Mark Ennis, Chairman SSE Airtricity and Michael Donaghy, Mechanical Engineering Student from UU

A SCHOLARSHIP that helps university and college students meet the costs of their degrees has made its 100th award.

The SSE Airtricity Scholarship Fund has now contributed almost £360,000 to the education of students attending Ulster University and South West College.

The fund supports students who live in Co Derry and Tyrone, where SSE's Slieve Kirk Wind Park is located.

It covers approximately 50 per cent of students’ fees for applicable courses at UU or SWC.

While the funding is available for a broad range of degrees, including business, media and design, there is a particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (stem) subjects.

The 100th person to be awarded the scholarship is Michael Donaghy from Greysteel, who is studying mechanical engineering at UU.

Sarah Hoolahan, Sustainability Manager at SSE Airtricity, said the fund had a positive and lasting impact on the lives of 100 young people "as they take a big in their educational journey".

"We are delighted that the scholarship fund has proven so popular since its inception.Working with two professional and forward-thinking partners, Ulster University and South West College, has been crucial in making the programme such a success," she said.

"With two more SSE Airtricity wind farms going live in the region this year, we’re looking forward to even more people benefitting from the fund in the future."