AN undergraduate at the Royal College of Surgeons has been awarded the Bantry Credit Union third level education scholarship for 2025/26.

Eli Reynolds, from Beach, Bantry was the recipient of the award, which is now in its 23rd year and is worth up to €10,000 over four years.

Eli sat the Leaving Certificate exams last June at Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí and his hard work was rewarded when he got results equating to 577 CAO points and was offered a place on the BSc Physiotherapy (Hons) degree programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.

The vice-chairperson of Bantry Credit Union, Eleanor Fitzgerald, presented Eli with his award at a ceremony recently where he was accompanied by his proud mother Camile Dorney.

Ms Fitzgerald explained that the scholarship is awarded following a rigorous process, involving a detailed application form, a written submission and an interview.

The assessment and decision-making process is conducted entirely by a panel of independent adjudicators. These highly experienced adjudicators take a holistic view, recognising the applicants’ personal traits, community and voluntary involvement, and career choices as well as their academic results.

Eleanor noted: ‘Whoever wins the scholarship will have earned it.’ She paid tribute to the remarkable commitment of the panel of independent adjudicators, all of whom have given almost unbroken service to the scholarship scheme since 2003: James Kilduff (MTU), Olive McCarthy (UCC) and Denis O’Sullivan (retired former deputy principal of Maria Immaculata Community College, Dunmanway).

The vice chairperson thanked all the students who submitted applications and also thanked the three second-level schools in Bantry Credit Union’s area (Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí, Scoil Phobail Bhéara and Scoil Mhuire, Béal Átha an Ghaorthaidh) for their continued co-operation in the operation of the scholarship scheme.

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí principal Marian Carey, also spoke at the ceremony. She said: ‘It’s a genuine pleasure to be here today to celebrate Eli, a young man who exemplifies everything we hope to nurture in our students – academic excellence, strong character, and a generous spirit.’

She commented on Eli’s academic abilities and achievements, and added: ‘But what makes Eli truly special isn’t just what he achieved in the classroom – it’s who he is as a person.’

Noting that the final stage of the scholarship adjudication process was an interview, Ms Carey said: ‘When you meet Eli, you immediately recognise his integrity, his maturity, and his potential. The interview panel clearly saw what we’ve known all along.’

Congratulating Eli on being awarded the scholarship, the principal concluded: ‘Thank you Eli for being such a credit to our school, and thank you for setting such a fine example for those who follow. We are immensely proud of you, and we wish you every success in your future.’