2009 Press Releases
Top Honour for UCC Government Student
12.10.2009
The Washington Ireland Programme (WIP) celebrated its 15th anniversary recently with a gala ceremony in Dublin Castle attended by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and the US Ambassador to Ireland, Daniel M. Rooney.
12.10.2009
The Washington Ireland Programme (WIP) celebrated its 15th anniversary recently with a gala ceremony in Dublin Castle attended by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, and the US Ambassador to Ireland, Daniel M. Rooney.
WIP seeks to prepare a new generation of leaders and active citizens in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Each year, 30 outstanding third-level students are selected to complete an intense eight-week professional internship in Washington DC and a concentrated course in executive leadership. Since Carol Wheeler initiated the concept in 1995 with a group of 13 students, the programme has gone from strength to strength. In 2009, a record 319 students applied for one of the coveted 30 WIP places.
The sole successful UCC applicant was Mark O’Regan, a student on the BSc Government degree. Mark was assigned to work with the House Representative, Patrick J. Kennedy, a son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Mark made a very favourable impression during his time in Washington and was selected as the valedictorian of the 2009 class. Having received his graduation parchment from President McAleese, Mark delivered a superb valedictorian speech during which he stressed the service and leadership aims of the Washington Ireland Programme.
Picture shows Mary McAleese, President of Ireland with UCC student, Mark O’Regan
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The sole successful UCC applicant was Mark O’Regan, a student on the BSc Government degree. Mark was assigned to work with the House Representative, Patrick J. Kennedy, a son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Mark made a very favourable impression during his time in Washington and was selected as the valedictorian of the 2009 class. Having received his graduation parchment from President McAleese, Mark delivered a superb valedictorian speech during which he stressed the service and leadership aims of the Washington Ireland Programme.
Picture shows Mary McAleese, President of Ireland with UCC student, Mark O’Regan
1172MMcS