Three Co Armagh students are off to study in the USA this month.
And among them is Keady student Melissa Tully (pictured left) who is one of 54 students from across Northern Ireland on British Council’s prestigious Study USA programme.
Catherine Dummigan from Lurgan (centre) and Cara Matchett from Portadown (right) are also on their way stateside.
The programme 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 21-year-old Keady student, a previous student at St Patricks High School, Keady, will spend her year at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa.
As a Computing Technologies student at Ulster University, she is excited to be part of the programme.
She said: “I decided to take part in Study USA as it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will
allow me to gain global experience and interact with different cultures. I’m excited to experience a whole different university lifestyle and make friends from other countries.
“I will especially benefit from the different learning style in the US, as it will allow me to become more confident in public speaking as well as get me back into the routine of revising on a daily basis which will help me achieve the best marks possible in final year.”
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.
