graduate of the year award 2023
Paralympian and professional wheelchair basketball player, James MacSorley has won the Allstate NI Queen's Graduate of the Year Award for 2023. Following a lifelong dedication to wheelchair basketball, his greatest achievement was winning the Paralympic Bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021. James is currently training to compete in the Paralympics Games in Paris next summer.
ALUMNI NETWORKING EVENT
A group of Queen’s alumni currently working at Allstate Northern Ireland recently returned to the Queen’s campus for an engaging networking event. The event was hosted at Queen's state-of-the-art Student Centre and Students’ Union at One Elmwood.
the back 10 campaign
The Rugby World Cup has grabbed the attention of sports fans around the globe – and now you can play a part in developing the next generation of top talent. The Queen’s University of Belfast Rugby Football Clubis urging alumni, friends and supporters to get behind its new fundraising appeal: “Back 10."
ROBIN MENARY FOUNDATION
Research to develop new treatments for patients facing a brain tumour diagnosis could give hope for the future, a family foundation supporting new work has said.
qual event for queen's alumni
Ireland’s UK ambassador Martin Fraser hosted the event to mark the centenary of Queen’s University Association London (QUAL).
Members of the 300-strong association, including its president Sean Rainey, were joined by community and political leaders, together with representatives of Queen’s.
Mitchell scholar reunion
Queen’s alumni from across the United States gathered for a reunion event held at the university to continue the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the Mitchell Scholarship Programme.
charity fundraiser
Ulster GAA’s recent charity skydive raised over £37,000 in aid of its chosen charities, the Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation supporting prostate cancer research at the Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, and Air Ambulance NI. Nine high-profile GAA personalities took on 15,000 feet skydives in aid of two vital causes.
STUDENT OF THE YEAR AWARD 2023
Eimear O'Rourke has been awarded the Allstate NI Queen's Student of the Year. Eimear is studying Medicine at Queen's University and she has been recognised for her dedication and commitment to allergy research, as well as her leadership roles within Queen's and the wider community.
aLUMNI ENGAGEMENT
Members of Queen's University Association, London (QUAL) were pleased to return to the course for the 2023 edition of the QUAL President’s Cup. The sun was shining, and the skies were blue for the association’s annual golf event, which took place on Wednesday 31 May. The group were glad to gather again at the fairways and greens of Beaconsfield Golf Club, Buckinghamshire.
Lanyon news
Queen's researchers are leading on some of the most exciting work in cancer research. Now the world is beginning to take notice. For many, a cure for cancer is already a reality - and Queen's researchers and clinicians are on the front line of finding new ways to tackle the disease, in all its many forms. And the world is sitting up and taking notice.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Cormac McAnallen Medal is a prestigious award presented to an exceptional student for outstanding commitment to, and performance for, the Queen’s GAA club. This year's recipient was Tiernan Bogue. The Brian Conlon GAA Scholarship was awarded to Diarmud King, Queen's Freshers Footballer, whose home club is Newtownbutler First Fermanagh GAC.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Over half a million pounds has been raised for a new scholarship fund launched by President and Secretary Clinton as part of the Agreement 25 Conference at Queen’s University, Belfast. The Clinton Scholarship Fund, designed to support US study opportunities for economically or socially disadvantaged local Queen’s students, will enable them to experience study programmes which will broaden horizons and deliver wider opportunities.
Active Lifestyles
Queen’s Sport is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with market-leading consultancy and recruitment firm VANRATH. The new partnership sees VANRATH become official sponsors of its annual Active Lifestyle Programme. Designed to be fun, inclusive and accessible for students of all abilities, the programme provides options to try out and get involved in the many sporting opportunities on offer at Queen's.
Queen's FOR LIFE!
More than fifty student projects have benefited from donations made by graduates and friends of Queen’s University, through the Queen's Annual Fund to enhance the student experience. In the 2022-23 academic year, £62,704 was disbursed to 55 clubs, societies and Schools, helping students access everything from first aid training, sports kit, scholarships, competition entry fees and mental health and wellbeing initiatives.
Scholarships
Northern Ireland cancer charity Cancer Focus NI is funding a three-year research fellow post at the Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research. Today’s announcement of the Dr Jim Birnie Fellowship will see research fellow Susie Kennedy, under the supervision of Dr Richard Turkington, advance the study into improving response rates to immunotherapy in oesophageal cancer.
Scholarships
Queen’s University student Connor Allison has been announced as one of eight students from across the island of Ireland to be awarded an Ireland Healthcare Scholarship. The scholarship programme has been set up by United Health Foundation, to support students from less-advantaged backgrounds who wish to pursue a degree in primary or specialised care, or emerging health care technologies.
Graduate of the Year
Dr Caroline McElnay has been announced as the 2022 Allstate NI Queen’s Graduate of the Year, joining a prestigious list of Queen’s University graduates who have been similarly recognised for their achievements. As the Director of Health for the New Zealand government during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr McElnay worked alongside New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and was lauded for developing policies which directly contributed to saving thousands of lives.
Widening Participation
First-year students who have recently arrived at Queen’s through the Pathway Opportunity Programme were officially welcomed to the start of their academic journey by Queen’s University and donor, Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd. The event at Elmwood Hall celebrated the hard work and determination of the 131 students, many of whom have faced challenges beyond the Covid-19 pandemic to make it to university.
JAM Bursaries
Bursaries on offer from the Queen’s Junior Academy of Music (JAM) provide a “unique opportunity for musical training at a young age,” according to parents. The funds provide opportunities for children aged 4 to 12 to take part in JAM programmes including music practice and theory, creative music technology and participation in a choir.
Lanyon magazine
A new magazine has launched for Queen’s University alumni, keeping them connected with their alma mater wherever they are in the world. Named Lanyon, after the iconic building on University Road, the magazine will be published twice a year and is packed with University and alumni news, in-depth features and challenging opinion from the heart of our campus. It also shows how Queen’s is leading the world in research and discovery.
Denis Lynn Scholarship
The Denis Lynn Scholarship for Sustainable Food Innovation is a generous bursary of £20,000 towards tuition fees and living expenses for a student on the Advanced Food Safety Masters degree, within the School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), at Queen’s University Belfast.
Medical Research
The Armagh Tigers Diabetes Research Scholarship will be presented for the first time for the academic year 2022 – 2023 to support students who have been accepted onto the MSc Experimental Medicine course.
Philanthropy Fortnight
Philanthropy Fortnight - Monday June 13 to Friday June 24 - is a partnership of business and charitable organisations across NI which highlights the tangible difference that 'giving' makes to the local community and aims to inspire support for new and existing philanthropic enterprises.
aSSOCIATIONS
Members of QUAL (Queen's University Association, London) were pleased to return to the course for the 2022 edition of the QUAL President’s Cup. The association’s annual golf event took place on the sunny Monday morning of May 18.
Volunteer's Week
Volunteers’ Week gives the Development and Alumni Relations (DARO) office the opportunity to celebrate the time and effort that alumni volunteers have given to Queen’s over the past year.
Graduate News
QUBIS Ltd (the commercialisation arm of Queen’s University Belfast) has announced the launch of the second Innovation Investment Fund in conjunction with Sapphire Capital Partners LLP.
Graduate news
Nominations are now open for the Allstate NI Queen's Graduate, Student and Alumni Volunteer of the Year. Tell us about the Graduates and Students who are making a difference and help us showcase the best of Queen's.
culture and arts
Are we more connected than ever? Or more alone?
Will the pandemic leave permanent marks on our consciousness, or will we forget and move on? Professor Glenn Patterson, author and Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre, reflects on the implications for culture and books in 2022.
food security
Just how much will food prices rise by?
And who will be affected most? Could 2022 be the year of widespread famine? And will the world food supply system be able to cope? Professor Chris Elliott, of the Institute for Global Food Security, considers how the pandemic and climate change will affect the global food supply – and what it means for farmers and shoppers in NI.
technology
Has Virtual Reality finally reached a tipping point?
Is this the year we start living in the metaverse? Futurologist, Dr. Ian Pearson (Applied Mathematics and Physics, 1981), makes predictions for a living, and says that aside from all the obvious impacts of the pandemic on technology, there are plenty of surprising ones, too.
health
What's Next for COVID-19?
Dr. Lindsay Broadbent, research fellow, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, gives her thoughts on the evidence.
Graduate News
SOCIAL WORKER GRADUATES AFTER 20 YEARS
It may be two decades since she started her degree course at Queen’s but for ‘first class’ alumna Frances McCullough her recent graduation represents a huge triumph over adversity, and gives her the chance to pursue her dreams.
VIEW PREVIOUS NEWS ITEMS HERE
Top of Page