Performance Sport Scholars Go for Gold
Ulster University is proud to support the next generation of sporting stars through the Performance Sport Scholarships. This summer, we cheered from sidelines and sofas as our students, past and present, competed on the biggest stage of all at Paris 2024.
Kate O’Connor – History in the Heptathlon
Current student Kate O’Connor made history as Ireland’s first heptathlete to compete at the Olympics, all while completing a Master's in Communication & PR.
In her Olympics debut, Kate finished in 14th place – a full 10 spots higher than her initial #24 ranking. Through her dedication to both academic and sporting excellence, Kate embodies what the Performance Sport Scholarships are all about.
“Choosing Ulster has helped me reach my educational aspirations and my sporting goals.” – Kate O’Connor
Following a well-deserved break, Kate is hungry for more and is eyeing a top 10 finish in her next outing. Well done Kate!
Jack McMillan Grabs Gold
Jack graduated from Ulster in 2022 with a degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences.
As a recipient of the Performance Sport Scholarship during his time with us, Jack competed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where he and his team finished in 14th place.
This year, Jack helped Team GB to win gold in the men’s 4x200 freestyle relay at Paris 2024, making him just the 5th athlete ever to bring a gold medal back home to Northern Ireland. Congratulations, Jack!
Danielle Hill and Victoria Catterson – Swimming for Success
The Women’s 4x100 Freestyle Relay saw two Ulster University graduates and Sporting Talent scholars competing side-by-side as Danielle Hill and Victoria Catterson represented Ireland in the water. The young team performed brilliantly to set a time which was just short of the Irish record.
Danielle would go on to compete in a number of other events including the 4x100m Medley Relay, 50m Freestyle and 100m Backstroke, reaching the semi-final in the latter.
We are delighted to have welcomed Danielle back for the new academic year as she completes a MSc in Strength and Conditioning.
Well done, Danielle and Victoria!
Inspirational Noma wins Convocation Student of the Year
In 2015, Nomathamsanqa (Noma) Tholo arrived in the UK from Zimbabwe, determined to build a career in healthcare. Despite financial challenges forcing her to leave a Master’s in Pharmacy at the University of Sussex, she never gave up on her dream.
Her breakthrough came in 2021 when she received an offer to study Personalised Medicine at Ulster University’s Derry~Londonderry campus. Thanks to support from the Academic Opportunity Fund, Noma was able to fully focus on her studies without financial barriers holding her back.
“Having to quit my course was a big blow for me but I had the encouragement and support of friends and the wider community, so I stayed humble, resilient, and focused. This scholarship has been a real life-changing opportunity and has helped me to continue my studies and reach my goals.”
Noma thrived at Ulster, earning top grades and securing a place on the Dean’s List. As President of multiple student societies, she revitalised campus life, leading to nominations at the UU Student Union Awards. She also championed student voices as an ambassador for the BAME+ Network and Mind Your Mood campaign while promoting outreach initiatives like Restart a Heart.
In recognition of her exceptional achievements, Noma was named Allstate NI Convocation Undergraduate Student of the Year 2024.
“I am proof that education changes lives and makes the world a better place, one scholar at a time. Thank you!”
Noma’s journey is a testament to resilience, ambition, and the life-changing impact of donor support.
Travel opportunity bursaries: Making an impact across the globe
Last summer, BSc Occupational Therapy student Abigail Woods received a Travel Opportunity Bursary which allowed her to travel to Ghana with a small group of classmates.
Abigail grabbed this eye-opening opportunity with both hands, making a massive difference in an underserved community while honing her skills as a future occupational therapist in the process.
"For my role emerging placement I worked in a primary school in Kumasi with two of my classmates. We worked with the teachers of the school to promote an understanding of occupational therapy and how they could help to better accommodate the children with additional needs.
The experience was unbelievable; we got to meet people from all over the world, we got to experience a brand new culture and develop our skills that will be useful for professional practice once we graduate.
This experience consolidated to me what a real difference my job can make to people’s lives and I left feeling really proud of the profession I have chosen. This was an incredible, once in a lifetime experience that was greatly helped by the Travel Opportunity Bursary."
Returning to Ulster full of confidence and knowledge from working in the field, Abigail went on to excel in her final year and graduated over the summer with First Class Honours.
It is thanks to your donations that students like Abigail are able to use their expertise where it is needed most, making tangible impacts around the globe while experiencing unparalleled growth as a student and future professional.
