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Scholars thank Devenish Nutrition for support

Posted 1 March 2014

Three º¬Ðß²ÝÉçÇø students from Northern Ireland are being supported in their studies by scholarships from Belfast-based Devenish Nutrition. 

Richard Beattie, Catherine Gawn and William McNiece celebrated their success in securing the awards at the university’s annual scholarships presentation day. 

The newest Devenish scholar is Richard, 19, from Dunloy, Ballymoney. The first year agriculture degree student, who previously attended Ballycastle and Ballymoney High Schools, said: “It is a great honour and a privilege to receive this scholarship from Devenish.  I am very interested in the animal nutrition sector and hope to learn more about this industry and I feel Devenish will help me to further my knowledge and skills.  I would like to thank Mr Owen Brennan for this scholarship.

“I hope to have a career in the animal nutrition industry to help increase my knowledge and skills to bring back to the home farm.”  Richard is a committee member of Finvoy Young farmers and treasurer of the Harper Ireland student society. 

Catherine Gawn, 20, from Ballymena, is also a Devenish scholar. Catherine, who is studying BSc (Hons) agriculture with animal science, said: “I am very grateful to have been chosen to receive this award and would like to thank Devenish Nutrition for their kind and generous financial support.” Away from her studies Catherine, a former Antrim Grammar School pupil, assists with the suckler herd, sheep and free range laying hens on her home farm, and enjoys breeding and showing miniature horses. 

The third Devenish scholar is William McNiece, from Middletown, Armagh. A former pupil of The Royal School Armagh, William, 22, is a final year agriculture with animal science student. He said: “Receiving this scholarship from Devenish gave me great encouragement, and confirmed that I had made the right choice in studying agriculture.” 

William is currently carrying out an anaerobic digestion research project and hopes to travel to experience different farming systems abroad before becoming a herdsman or farm manage back in the UK. He has a strong interest in breeding and genomic in Holsteins.

The scholars with Devenish representatives Alan Bristow, Technical Manager, and Deborah Mcgann,  HR Manager.