Quercus College Scholars celebrated by family and the College of Medicine and Health

23 Mar 2023

The College of Medicine and Health celebrated the achievements of 36 students who received a Quercus Undergraduate College Scholarship at a special event in the Dr Dora Allman Room on Thursday, 23 March. 

The scholarship acknowledges the achievement of a first class honours standard in their University examination in 2022.  The event was a great afternoon of celebration for the students, friends and family. Students from as far away as Vietnam and Canada received the scholarship demonstrating the international reach of the College of Medicine and Health.

The College also celebrated Grace O’Sullivan, a third-year dental student from Ballincollig, Co Cork on becoming Quercus University Academic Scholar for the College of Medicine and Health. Grace was awarded the NUI Dr Henry Hutchinson Steward Medical Scholarship in Dentistry in 2022 and was awarded a UCC Quercus College Scholarship two years in a row for achieving the highest aggregate score in her exams in 2020 and 2021.

Grace O'Sullivan with Professor Helen Whelton and Professor Stephen Byrne. Image: Tomás Tyner/UCC

Professor Stephen Byrne, Deputy President & Registrar of UCC, said: 

“Excellence fortifies everything we do at UCC and the University recognises exceptional students when they join, as well as those who develop their talents while studying here. I would like to congratulate the 36 Quercus College Scholarship recipients and Grace O’Sullivan on becoming Quercus University Academic Scholar for the College of Medicine and Health and commend you all on this remarkable academic achievement.”

Head of the College of Medicine & Health, UCC, Professor Helen Whelton congratulated all the recipients across the six schools within the UCC College of Medicine and Health: 

“Success requires a diverse skillset, meaning that those who come out on top must truly be all-rounders. This entails not only being able to learn and critically appraise material presented to you, but also being a valuable team member, a competent leader and a willing follower, depending on the situation at hand. You have all displayed these abilities in abundance.”

Grace O’Sullivan said: “Being a part of the Quercus family is one of my proudest achievements to date and has inspired me to continue reaching my potential with the ultimate aim of providing patients with the care they deserve”.

After three years of studying dentistry Grace said she has learned “that the practice of dentistry is not limited to filling and extracting teeth, but that our knowledge and expertise are life-changing gifts to our patients. By engaging with patients, we are not only promoting oral health as dentists, but we are advising lifestyle changes that will immensely impact a patient’s overall well-being”.

In the College of Medicine and Health, Quercus Undergraduate College Scholarships of €500 each are tenable for one year and offered based on the results of each of the Summer First, Second, Third and, where applicable.

UCC staff and students can view more images from the event, captured by Tomás Tyner, in our gallery:

https://ucc.workvivo.com/media/32479