Shining Bright: The College of Medicine and Health celebrates our 2025 Quercus College Scholars

We proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements of our 2025 Quercus College Scholars at a special awards ceremony held on 19 November in the Dr Dora Allman Room.

Professor Stephen Byrne, Deputy President and Registrar, welcomed scholars, families and colleagues, applauding the students’ dedication and hard work, and congratulating our newest Quercus College Scholars on their exceptional academic success.

L-R Clockwise: Scholars from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Pharmacy, Áine McCormack Quercus University Scholarship recipient with Prof Byrne and Prod O’Leary, Dental School and Hospital.

Quercus, the Latin for “oak”, symbolises growth, transformation and the nurturing of talent within UCC and this year, 38 students from across the College of Medicine and Health were awarded a Quercus College Scholar Medal, representing a diverse international cohort from Ireland, Great Britain, Canada, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Italy.

In addition to the presentation of the Quercus College Scholar Medals by Prof Byrne, aided by Prof McVeigh, a prestigious Quercus University Scholarship was awarded to a College of Medicine and Health student, one of only four awarded annually across UCC in recognition of exceptional academic performance. This year’s recipient was Áine McCormack, a medicine student who has consistently ranked at the top of her class and has received some of UCC’s highest academic honours.

During the awards ceremony, Professor Byrne encouraged our scholars to continue building on their success by embracing the full university experience - academically, socially and personally. He highlighted the importance of teamwork, communication and empathy, qualities essential not only in healthcare but in every professional pathway.

Our Quercus ceremony was more than an academic celebration, it was a truly special family occasion, with proud parents, grandparents, siblings, partners and friends joining scholars in the Dr Dora Allman Room to acknowledge and share in their success.

Congratulations to all our 2025 Quercus College Scholars. Your award is a credit to your commitment to achieving excellence and to the vibrant learning environment at UCC. We’re excited to see where your talent and dedication will lead you next!