Stranmillis Student Secures Place on US Scholarship Programme

Stranmillis student Samuel Curry is off to study in the USA this month.

He will be among 54 students from across Northern Ireland on British Council’s prestigious Study USA programme, which enables students to study business or STEM subjects for a year in American colleges, across 34 States, helping to develop their career prospects when they return to Northern Ireland.

The 20-year-old is a former student of Rainey Endowed Grammar School in Magherafelt. Instead of entering Year 3 of his BEd degree in Teacher Education (Primary) at Stranmillis, Sam will spend his year at the University of Indianapolis.

Sam is excited to be part of the programme. He said: “I decided to take part in Study USA as the skills and leadership qualities acquired from studying business will help develop desirable managerial and leadership qualities, which I can then put to good use in schools in years to come. I am most excited about meeting new people, learning about a different culture and getting involved in a local church. I just cannot wait to get started.”

The British Council, which is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, manages Study USA on behalf of the Department for the Economy. Since its formation in 1994, the initiative has sent over 2000 students from Northern Ireland to all four corners of the United States where they have successfully completed a year studying.

Also speaking about the programme was Jonathan Stewart, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, who said: “I am confident that the students departing for the US this year will be great ambassadors for Northern Ireland and will help to further important long-term links and connections between the two countries. Through Study USA, students will have the opportunity to not only enhance their employability skills but also develop intercultural skills, which will help them to prepare to work in a global economy. We wish them every success, and trust that new connections and friendships will be developed in the year ahead.”

Study USA is just one of many international opportunities available through British Council Northern Ireland. For more information visit http://nireland.britishcouncil.org , email opportunity@britishcouncil.org or follow on Twitter BCouncil_NI or Facebook.

Applications for Study USA 2020/21 will open in late Autumn.