Scholarship Award

We give away a total of €7,000 each year in Student Scholarships!

€1,000 will be awarded to one student from each of our 7 secondary schools in our common bond who are attending third-level for the first time. The award is not performance-based.

People First Credit Union is committed to providing its members with valuable financial services. We recognize that third-level education can be a financial burden on students and their families, we want to help reduce the financial strain of registration fees, rent, travel, bills, books etc.

Applications open to 6th Years heading to third level in September from:

  • St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise
  • Scoil Chriost Rí, Portlaoise
  • Portlaoise College, Portlaoise
  • Dunamase College Choláiste Dhún Masc, Portlaoise
  • Athy College, Athy
  • Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy
  • Heywood Community School, Abbeyleix

You must be finishing 6th Year in May/June 2024 to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Winning entrants must provide evidence of acceptance and attendance of the first year in a full time Third Level course upon request.

2024 Scholarship Application Form

This is only for us to confirm that you have applied to (or expect to apply to) a third-level course. We understand that CAO options change so your choice has no effect on your application.

This is only for us to confirm that you have applied to (or expect to apply to) a third-level course. We understand that CAO options change so your choice has no effect on your application.

Scholarship applications are retained in line with the credit union's privacy policy. Where data continues to be processed such as an entrant’s photographic image, then such data will be retained in line with the consent provided.

Terms and Conditions

  • Your account must maintain membership between the 1st January and the 30th September in the calendar year you are applying for the Scholarship.
  • Applicants must be a member of People First Credit Union (PFCU) and hold an active credit union account that meets AML compliance (i.e., up to date Photo ID and Proof of Address) in the year that you are making an application for the Scholarship Award.
  • Applicants must be a student attending one of the 7 secondary schools located in the PFCU’s common bond area.
  • Applicants must be applying for/entering into (for the first time) a Third Level education or a similar Level 5 Course that has a minimum 1-year duration.
  • Winning entrants must provide evidence of acceptance and attendance of the first year in a full time Third Level course upon request.
  • Only entries on the official application form (available in any PFCU branch offices or on our website) will be accepted and closing date for entries will be Sept 30th in each Scholarship year.
  • One application per student may only be entered into the draw and all eligible applicants will be informed of the date of the draw.
  • The draw will take place at the AGM each year, the draw will be conducted by an assigned panel of PFCU officers and the 7 winning entrants will be informed by PFCU following the draw.

Past Winners

2023/24

  • Molly O' Rourke - Heywood Community School
  • Gary Young O' Shea - St. Mary's CBS, Portlaoise
  • Gracious Adebiyi - Scoil Chríost Rí
  • Oisin Grufferty - Ardscoil na Trionóide, Athy
  • Naomi Grant Akande - Portlaoise College 

2022/23

  • Sinead Larkin – Scoil Chriost Rí Portlaoise
  • Laura Vesey – Heywood Community School
  • Gloria Okafor – Ardscoil Na Trionoide
  • Cúán Tilson – Portlaoise College
  • Jason Alade – St Marys CBS