Ryan Hickey, once a school dropout, has achieved remarkable success and received recognition for his accomplishments. After struggling with mental health difficulties during his transition year, Ryan took a break from school. However, he returned for fifth year only to find that his anxiety was still overwhelming, leading him to ultimately leave school. Despite the support he received from his school, Ryan felt that he had fallen behind and decided not to pursue the Leaving Cert.
Determined to find an alternative, Ryan enrolled in a post-Leaving Cert business course at St Conleth’s Community College. He embraced this second chance and dedicated himself to his studies, even taking on extra subjects. With his PLC qualification as a foundation, Ryan was thrilled to be accepted into the Digital Marketing and Data Analytics program at South East Technological University (SETU).
During his third year at SETU, Ryan came across an opportunity to apply for the Bord na Móna Scholarship Pathway program. The competition required a submission on sustainability, which immediately caught his interest. Ryan poured his thoughts and ideas onto the document, sending it off with little expectation. To his surprise, he received an email from Bord na Móna expressing their admiration for his submission and awarding him the scholarship.
Ryan is one of three students from SETU who received the scholarship this year. The other winners come from different academic backgrounds, and Ryan enjoyed connecting with them and gaining insight into their perspectives on sustainability at the awards ceremony. In addition to the financial support, the scholarship also provides mentoring, the opportunity to visit Bord na Móna sites, and a chance for a work placement. Although Ryan had already secured a placement with Periti Digital, a customer relationship management company, he appreciates the additional opportunities offered by the scholarship.
Entering his final year at SETU, Ryan also has a full-time job offer from Periti Digital once he graduates. Throughout his journey, Ryan has been open about his previous mental health challenges, believing that talking about it openly is the best way for him to overcome it.
Bord na Móna’s Scholarship Pathway program is part of their ‘Pathways to the Future’ initiative, designed to support students in climate action and sustainable economic development. This program offers ten places to Level 8 students across Ireland, providing financial and other types of aid to help them overcome educational barriers. Alongside a business case on sustainability, applicants must also submit a personal statement. Bord na Móna also offers a Graduate Pathway and an Apprenticeship Pathway, allowing individuals from various backgrounds to access opportunities in climate action and sustainable economic development.
In collaboration with the Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) and Solas, the Apprenticeship Pathway offers apprenticeships in areas such as transport operations, mechanics, wind turbine maintenance, and automation, providing educational support and career development opportunities.
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