Matthew Kavanagh (CCR class of 2014) has recently been awarded an Ad Astra Academic scholarship by UCD. The UCD Ad Astra Academic programme seeks motivated students who can demonstrate high intellectual achievement yet want to reach further through undertaking a challenging university programme. In order to qualify for the scholarship, students must achieve a minimum of six higher level A1s in their first sitting of the leaving certificate as well as demonstrate significant extra curricular achievement. Candidates who satisfy these criteria are then subject to an interview with a panel of four members of UCD’s faculty.

Matthew obtained 8 higher level A1 grades in his leaving certificate and is studying quantitative business at UCD. The scholarship entitles Matthew to an annual monetary bursary, a personal academic mentor for the duration of his studies and access to a series of programmes and seminars aimed at cultivating leadership, innovation and creative thinking skills.

Matthew will attend an awards ceremony in January where he will be presented with the scholarship.