Bursary Winners 2008

Bursary Winners 2008

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Bursary Winners 2008

In 2008 the bursaries attracted submissions from students from diverse backgrounds all of whom benefited from the financial incentives and assistance provided by the bursary programme.

Andrew Clarke - Higher National Diploma in Agriculture

Andrew from Monaghan is currently studying on the Higher National Diploma in Agriculture. At the start of this course he received a £1000 bursary from the Tyrone Farming Society. He said, “The cost of studying has been rising due to the absence of grants and more recently the introduction of tuition fees.” He views the bursary not only as a vote of confidence in his work to date and perceived ability but also an indication that industry is willing to invest in young people embarking on a career in agriculture. Andrew has purchased a printer for home use which helps him with his notes at college. He will also use some of the money towards a flight to New Zealand in the coming weeks where he will spend six months working on a dairy farm in South Island observing new innovations and gaining invaluable experience.

David Kwasniewski - BSc in Agricultural Technology

David Kwasniewski from Omagh has just completed first year of the BSc Agricultural Technology course offered in partnership between CAFRE and Queen’s University Belfast. David was awarded his bursary from Ai Services Ltd. In his spare time David works on the family farm and manages his own pedigree Suffolk flock. With his bursary award he plans to travel to Canada to work with different systems and methods of dairying management. He believes it is always a worthwhile exercise to leave the farm gate to see new technology on offer to industry from research. It is simply this mix of effort, inspiration and innovation that makes the bursary scheme work. David’s hobbies include reading and fishing.

Heather Hall - BSc in Agricultural Technology

In 2008, Heather Hall from Macosquin, Coleraine, received the £1500 bursary from Dunbia (Dungannon). Heather, a former pupil of Coleraine High School, is studying on the BSc Agricultural Technology programme.
Ashley Stewart, Human Resource Manager at Dunbia, said, “In Heather we have identified a talented and enthusiastic individual. By supporting a student at Greenmount, Dunbia is making a small but important contribution to ensuring the continued supply of professional managers to the industry. We wish Heather well in her programme”.
Heather is extremely grateful to Dunbia for giving this flying start to her degree education. She is particularly keen to pursue a career in meat marketing and Dunbia are keen to employ Heather during her work placement.
In her spare time Heather helps out on the family dairy and beef farm. She is also involved in Christian voluntary work and has travelled to Kenya to help in two orphanages. Heather is a talented musician and regularly plays the flute and piano at charity and social events. In June 2009 Heather was one of three CAFRE students nominated to attend the “The Common Purpose Frontrunner” Leadership Development.

Natasha Ferguson – Higher National Diploma in Agriculture

Natasha Ferguson from Derrygonnelly received a £1000 bursary from The Thomas Henry Foundation when she commenced the Higher National Diploma in Agriculture programme. Natasha, a former pupil of Mount Lourdes Grammar School Enniskillen, has a keen interest in breeding Falabella miniature horses. She is currently pursuing her work placement at Lakeland Veterinary Clinic (Derrygonnelly) assisting in its large animal practice and she hopes to complete her placement on a pedigree Charolais farm in Maghera.
Natasha is extremely grateful and encouraged that the Thomas Henry Foundation is willing to invest in young people embarking on a career in the land-based sector. She used the bursary to assist with accommodation costs and tuition fees.

Mairead McCullough – BSc in Agricultural Technology

Mairead McCullough from Dromara was the recipient of the Antrim Agricultural Society bursary award in 2008. She is currently studying for a BSc in Agricultural Technology and used her bursary to cover accommodation costs at the College. Mairead summarises her time at Greenmount to date as a wonderful experience. The mix of educational excellence and social development has seen her grow and prosper to the point where she can begin to map out a viable future for herself.
On the family farm, Mairead is directly involved in the breeding programmes of the sheep and canine enterprises and so it is of little surprise that for work placement she hopes to travel to Scotland to concentrate on the breeding of Blackface sheep, which she views as a natural progression from her training and education at Greenmount.

John Craig – BSc in Agricultural Technology

John Craig from Crumlin received his £1000 bursary from the Ulster Farmers’ Union. A former pupil of Ballymena Academy John has just completed first year of the BSc Agricultural Technology programme. The bursary is helping John finance his studies at Greenmount and he comments, “It’s very encouraging to have the support from industry and I would encourage all first year students to compete for these awards.”
In his spare time John works on the family farm and manages his own pedigree Suffolk flock. He also has part – time employment with a local animal feed company. After first year examinations, John voluntarily participated in two sheep shearing courses at Greenmount and during the summer has been assisting with sheep shearing duties across the Province.
Confident, articulate and ambitious, John is combining traditional arts and rural industry with the best of modern educational and management skills. Starting from a background in engineering John’s long term ambition is to find employment within the animal nutrition sector.

William Martin – Higher National Diploma in Agriculture

William Martin, from Benburb, received a £1000 bursary from the Northern Bank. William, a former pupil of Armagh Royal, is currently studying for a Higher National Diploma in Agriculture. He comments, “The bursary award was a great financial boost at the start of my higher education – it really made a difference.”
John Henning, Head of Agriculture Northern Bank, said, “We are pleased to support a student at Greenmount. Our industry needs to attract talented individuals if it is to survive. We wish William well in his course.”
In his spare time William helps out on the family beef and dairy farm. His other interests centre on rugby. He currently plays in the second row for Armagh Second XV. A particular highlight for William was touring with his school team in Argentina. He was also selected for the Ulster under 19’s training squad.
William has achieved the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Awards and is currently completing the Gold Award. He has also been an active member of the Boys Brigade for over 10 years and has gained the President’s and Queens’ badge awards.

Horticulture winners of the David Colegrave Foundation Bursary Award

Four young horticulturists shared in the David Colegrave Foundation Bursary in 2008.

horticulture winners

David Archibald, James Cuffey, Matthew Lilburn and Adam Harris along with tutor Claire Woods

James Cuffey – Foundation Degree in Horticulture

James Cuffey is from a horticulture background as his family run a contracting business in Crossgar which he hopes to take over one day. He feels a career in horticulture is challenging and a worthwhile area of employment. James recently was part of the winning team in the advanced section of the UK skills competition held at the Gardening Scotland Show in Edinburgh and will be going to England to take part in the finals at the end of September. He is currently on work placement which is providing fresh external insights to the landscape sector. He has many interests including the Boys Brigade and church work in addition to restoring his own vintage tractor and playing golf.

Matthew Lilburn – Foundation Degree in Horticulture

Matthew is from Lisburn, where the family business is involved in contract landscaping. He is a past-pupil of Laurelhill Community College. Matthew started his experience of the horticulture industry at Rademon Estate and this gave him the taste to pursue his studies in horticulture.
He commenced the Foundation Degree in Horticulture in September 2008 and is presently completing work experience at Robinette Landscapes Services in Hillsborough. His long term goal will be to complete a Landscape and Architecture programme through the University of Ulster Jordanstown Campus, as he particularly enjoys the design sections on the course. He has a keen interest in football and photography which complements the landscape design studies he is currently pursuing. He has used the bursary primarily for education fees at Greenmount.

Adam Harris - Foundation Degree in Horticulture

Adam Harris from Cullybackey completed the National Diploma in Horticulture and is currently pursuing a Foundation Degree in Horticulture. This has given him the opportunity to gain knowledge in a variety of horticultural sectors. He has now decided to specialise in sports turf and is aiming to be a head green keeper.
He originally planned to put his bursary towards the purchase of a trailer and mower for lawns to start up his own business. However with the economic downturn he decided to invest the money and hopes to use it for his living expenses at Greenmount when he returns to his studies in February 2010.
He is currently working at the Greenacres Golf Club as assistant green keeper. His practical advice is to apply for the bursary most closely related to the type of work of interest to the student, rather than submitting a report on a lesser known topic.

David Archibald – Foundation Degree in Horticulture

David is from Coleraine and received his secondary education at Coleraine Academical Institution. He has worked in many different sectors to date including Ashwood Garden Centre, Ballymoney, which gave him great exposure to plant identification and basic horticulture management as well as dealing directly with customers. He has also worked in Boots Chemist and Spar which has further developed his customer care and retail skills.
David’s chosen specialist interest is focused on sports turf management. He is currently fulfilling his work placement at Greenmount Campus gaining experience of the wide range of turf surfaces and the new driving range. On completion of his Foundation Degree in Horticulture in May 2010 he plans to further his studies at Myerscough College in Lancashire, studying Sports turf Design.
David would advise eligible students to apply for as many bursaries as possible even those outside their specialist field as he knows that winning a bursary has been a contributory factor in opening up other opportunities. In September he will be taking part in the Front Runner Programme. In his spare time David enjoys rugby, American football, travelling and reading.