ATU launches Stephen Walsh Memorial Scholarship for engineering students

ATLANTIC Technological University (ATU) has announced the second year of the Stephen Walsh Memorial Scholarship, established to honour the memory of Stephen Walsh, a third-year construction management student from Westport, known for his dedication as a class representative and his infectious enthusiasm for college life, who passed away suddenly in March 2022 while on work placement.

In 2023, inspired by Stephen’s story, an anonymous donor approached the Building and Civil Engineering Department with a desire to fund a scholarship in his name. This generous commitment led the GM Access and Participation Department to create a pre-entry scholarship designed to support first-year students entering engineering programmes at ATU Galway.

The scholarship specifically targets students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds or those who have faced significant personal challenges.

John Hanahoe, senior lecturer at ATU Galway, said: “This scholarship is a very fitting tribute to Stephen. It will help support students financially through their studies at ATU Galway so that they can achieve their potential.”

The Stephen Walsh Memorial Scholarship at ATU will be awarded annually until 2026. Each scholarship will provide financial support throughout the recipient's programme, easing the burden of tuition and related expenses.

Recently, representatives from ATU’s Access and Participation and Building and Civil Engineering departments met with Stephen’s parents, Martin and Margaret, and his girlfriend, Leah. During this meeting, ATU presented the details of the scholarship and shared the positive impact it has already had on this year’s recipient, who remains unnamed for privacy reasons.

Stephen's parents Margaret, Martin, brothers Ray and Conor and girlfriend Leah said that they are so grateful to the donor for sponsoring this scholarship.

In a joint statement from the family they said: “Stephen always helped his fellow students and it gives us great comfort that this scholarship is going to help others in Stephen's memory.”

The scholarship criteria include:

* Being a new entrant to higher education.

* Having completed the Leaving Certificate within the last two years.

* Currently applying for an engineering programme at ATU Galway through the CAO and meeting the general and specific entry requirements.

* Having a family income below the threshold for the third-level maintenance grant scheme.

For more information, contact: ATU Galway ap.galwaymayo@atu.ie