Big credit union boost for Laois and Kildare scholars

Students who attend secondary schools in Laois and around Athy have being given a helping hand in covering the cost of their third level costs thanks to the annual People First Credit Union Scholarship Awards.

Each year, the Portlaoise headquartered credit union, awards €1,000 to one student from each of the seven secondary schools in the common bond area who are attending third-level for the first time.  The award is not performance-based.

People First Credit Union says it gives the award because it recognises that third-level education can be a financial burden on students and their families, and it wants to help reduce the financial strain of registration fees, rent, travel, bills, books etc.

The Scholarship Award 2024 winning cheques were officially presented at the People First Credit Union AGM in the Clanard Court Hotel Athy on Wednesday, January 29.

The winners were:

• Rian Maher- St. Mary's CBS, Portlaoise
• Sorina Stratu- Portlaoise College
• Tara Ring- Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise
• Sadhbh Bergin- Dunamase College, Portlaosie
• Ava Churchouse- Heywood Community School, Ballinakill
• Oisin O'Donohue- Árdscoil na Tríonóide, Athy
• Elizabeth Byrne- Athy College

If you are a current leaving cert student hoping to go to college in September, applications are now open at https://shorturl.at/ul8zH  where you can also find out the full details.

Students must be attending the following schools to be eligible to apply.

• St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise
• Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise
• Portlaoise College, Portlaoise
• Dunamase College Choláiste Dhún Masc, Portlaoise
• Athy College, Athy
• Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy
• Heywood Community School, Ballinakill

You must be finishing 6th Year in May/June 2025 to be eligible to apply for the scholarship. Winning entrants must provide evidence of acceptance and attendance of the first year in a full time Third Level course upon request.