Head of Science at St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook, Mrs Bridget McConville, congratulates A Level Science students, Aron Hollywood and Rachel Boyle who are recipients of Nuffield Foundation Science Bursaries.

Two Year 14 students at St Paul’s High School, Bessbrook have been awarded prestigious Nuffield Foundation Science Bursaries.

Nuffield Foundation Science Bursaries offer up to 1000 bursaries a year, for students to work alongside practising scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.

Projects take place during the summer holidays, giving students an insight into the world of scientific research and development.

Students in the first year of a post-16 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) course are eligible to apply for a bursary of £80 per week to support them during their project. Placements are available across the UK, in universities, industry or research institutions. We welcome applications from students doing vocational courses as well as academic ones.

Aron Hollywood and Rachel Boyle, both A Level Science students at St Paul’s, undertook a placement with Norbrook Pharmaceuticals fin July 2012.   Each participated in a four week project which they presented at Queen’s University, Belfast last month. They received a bursary for the four week project and also a Crest Award on their presentation.

Both students were very fortunate to get an insight into how a science industry works in the local area, and were able to enhance their own personal, communication and organisational skills and this will make a positive impact on their applications to third level institutions this term.

Mr Dermot Kelly from the Armagh Diocesan Youth Commission, with Religious Education teacher Mrs Deirdre Graham and Year 13 pupils from St Paul’s High School.

Mr Dermot Kelly from the Armagh Diocesan Youth Commission visited St Paul’s on Thursday 29th September to launch the John Paul II Award to Year 13 students.

He gave a very inspirational talk and delivered a PowerPoint presentation which underlined the widespread appeal that this award has around Ireland. This is the third year of the award and it is going from strength to strength.

The response from Year 13 students was excellent, and we currently have eight Year 14 students completing their award in preparation for the Awards Ceremony in Armagh in early 2012.

On their new appointment as head of the Senior prefect team, Monica Mallon, head girl, and Niall Rice, head boy, talk about their plans for the year ahead.

So far, there hasn’t been too many events requiring their presence but they expect all that to change as the Student Council begin their work knowing that they will be heavily involved in all aspects of work within the council.

Currently both Monica and Niall are working alongside the rest of the Senior Prefect Team and are busy fundraising for the school trip to Kenya. The team leaves for Kenya on the 16^th of October and are looking forward to what is sure to be a trip of a lifetime.