Study USA 'Student of the Year' 
23 October 2014
A Queen’s Law student, Cara Heaslip, has been named the 2014 Study USA ‘Student of the Year’. Cara received the award for achieving top academic marks in her studies and for an essay highlighting how her experience has helped further her employability.
Originally from Crawfordsburn in Co Down, Cara spent a year studying business at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Speaking about the prize she said: “It is such an honour to receive this award and as I look back on my time in the US, I can genuinely say it was a life-changing experience.
“I go into my final year at Queen’s with newfound skills – including both people and business skills - both of which will help maximise my career prospects. They say the best teacher is experience and through Study USA I have learnt more than I could ever have imagined.
“Thank you to Dr Farry and DEL for funding the programme over many years – and also to the British Council and in particular, the Study USA team, for giving me the opportunity to be part of such an incredible experience."
Cara was among 70 students from Northern Ireland to successfully graduate from the Study USA programme and was honoured at 20th anniversary celebrations at Titanic Belfast on 17 October.
Formerly known as the Business Education Initiative, Study USA is managed by British Council Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL). Since its formation in 1994, the initiative has sent 1,800 local students to all four corners of the United States where they have successfully completed a year studying business at one of 140 institutions.
To celebrate two decades of the programme, the anniversary celebrations brought together the programmes most recent graduates, alumni from each year of the programme and their employers, as well as welcoming Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry and guest speaker Elizabeth Dibble, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in London.
This year, the Student of the Year Award was sponsored by leading audit firm, KPMG Northern Ireland. Jon D’Arcy, Chairman of KPMG Northern Ireland said: “KPMG is delighted to sponsor the Study USA Student of the Year award especially as, over the years, a number of our people have participated in this programme as undergraduates. “Study USA provides our young people with an invaluable opportunity to step outside of their comfort zone; to live and study in another country; learn new skills; get involved with community projects; and generally boost their employability.”
Go to http://nireland.britishcouncil.org for more on British Council Northern Ireland or the Study USA programme.
Media enquiries to Queen’s Communications Officers - Una Bradley (Mon-Wed) on 00 44 (0)28 9097 5320 or Michelle Cassidy (Thurs-Fri) - on 00 44 (0)28 9097 5310 or email comms.officer@qub.ac.uk
Photograph: Cara Heaslip celebrates her success with David Alderdice, Director of British Council Northern Ireland (left) and Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry. Students interested in applying for Study USA next year can do so online from Friday, October 24 at nireland.britishcouncil.org. Deadline for applications is Monday, November 24.
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