South West College (SWC) has recorded a record of six winners of the coveted Institution of Civil Engineers Quest Technician Scholarship. This prestigious award is a recognition of the achievement and ambition of higher technicians in the civil engineering industry. It is open to all eligible students across the Northern Ireland Region of the ICE and applicants are required to complete a very comprehensive application form, focussing on academic achievement, industrial experience and most importantly career aspirations.
The applicants were invited for interview by a panel of professionally qualified engineers. A condition of winning the scholarship is a commitment to assist the ICE in the promotion of the profession at career events and school visits.
The 6 winners, currently studying civil engineering at South West College are: Jill Halliday, Jack Browne, Matthew McKee, Wallace Shanks, Cal O’Brien and Eoin McCullagh.
Jill Halliday from Kilrea, started her journey in Engineering as a Higher Level Apprentice at the College. She said: “My A-Levels were IT, Engineering and Technology. After school, I decided that an apprenticeship was a better way forward for me than university. I thought it would suit me better. South West College was a college that was offered within the company I was working for and it was also available as a fast track course, which I could complete in two years, rather than three. I thought I’d get more experience working than I would at university and therefore, at the end of my studies, get more job opportunities. Being awarded this scholarship is a major personal achievement and milestone in my civil engineering career path.”
William Young, Project Officer for Civil Engineering at South West College, said: “When civil engineering was launched at South West College in 2010, professional recognition was seen to be a critical factor and at the core of the programme delivery. Strong links were established and developed with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to ensure that our students would have a full awareness of the importance of professionalism in their future careers. These Scholarships are the direct result of the highly effective relationship which now exists between the ICE and SWC. It is a tremendous personal achievement for the individual winners and to have six in one year is a source of great pride for the Civil Engineering Course Team at the College.”
To find out more or to apply for an engineering course at SWC a please visit our website at www.swc.ac.uk