Our Second Year students recently celebrated a wonderful milestone as they graduated from the Scholars Ireland programme at Trinity College Dublin.
Congratulations to Ryan Byrne Quinn, Chloe Sweetman, Melissa Brady, Destiny Kodia, Stefan Profir, Gabriela Kugrena, Glen Byrne, Poppy Russell, Laura O'Reilly, Aidan O'Neil and Jadon Joby, who proudly represented St Joseph’s at this year’s graduation ceremony.
Scholars Ireland, delivered in partnership with the Trinity Access Programme (TAP), is designed to give young people an authentic experience of university life. Over the past five months, our students worked closely with PhD tutor Dermot Grant, exploring the fascinating topic of Ancient Social Network Analysis. . Through eight weekly tutorials in school, they engaged in university-style learning, focusing on independent research, critical thinking and higher-order questioning.
The programme mirrors real third-level study. Students completed a challenging university-style assignment, which was formally assessed and graded by their PhD tutor. They also took part in a launch event, skills sessions and tutorials that introduced them to undergraduate-style topics and expectations. The experience builds confidence, resilience and strong written communication skills, while breaking down barriers to higher education.
A particular highlight of the day was joining 264 Second Year students from 24 TAP-linked schools to celebrate their achievements on campus. At just 13–14 years of age, being able to say they have graduated from Trinity as Scholars is an incredible accomplishment. Students received their certificates, enjoyed lunch in the Dining Hall and participated in bespoke campus tours linked to their areas of study — from Arts and Humanities to STEM subjects such as Neuroscience, Climate Change, AI, Physics and more.
We extend our sincere thanks to the TAP team — Kayleigh, Warren, Lydia and all involved — for their dedication and support. We are also very grateful to Ms Heaney, our Scholars Ireland coordinator in St Joseph’s, for guiding and encouraging our students throughout their journey and Ms Caherly who accompanied the students to the Award Ceremony.
The aim of Scholars Ireland is to plant a seed early in Junior Cycle, inspiring students to see third-level education as an achievable and exciting pathway. Judging by the enthusiasm and pride on graduation day, that seed has certainly been planted. We hope to see many of these faces back in Trinity in the years to come — this time as undergraduate students!
