BT invites applications for the New BT Genius Bursary Scheme 2010

Students taking part in Ulster College competitions were today invited to apply for the BT Genius Bursary, a cash contribution of one thousand pounds that will be awarded to five Ulster College GAA players each season, over the next three years.

The BT Genius Bursary is the latest scheme in BT's ongoing sponsorship of the Ulster Colleges. The bursary will reward five exemplary players between the age of 16 and 18 with a financial contribution towards their further education. Each award will be based on personal demonstration of inspiration, a positive attitude, brilliant ability and overall sportsmanship.

Peter Morris, BT Consumer Director said, 'BT has supported Ulster Colleges under 16's competitions for the past eight years. Recently this partnership was extended to under 18 level with a number of initiatives including the All Stars scheme and the creation of the BT Genius Bursary which I am delighted to officially open today.

'We are closely associated with, and organise, a variety of educational initiatives, including most notably the annual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition which culminates in a display of extraordinary achievement and ingenuity in Dublin each January. I would like to therefore encourage as many students as possible to apply for the BT Genius Bursary and I wish them well with their entries.'

The announcement was made during today's prize giving event for the winners of the BT Goal—Posts Tour which has just come to an end.

The skills game, known as the Goal—Posts Tour, formed part of a road show which visited 34 of the schools who compete in Ulster Colleges across Ireland. The tour featured a specially designed giant inflatable game zone where players competed against one another by testing their shooting skills in both football and hurling.

Over the course of six months, players participated in three challenges, hardest shot, most accurate shot and a scoring competition where players from each school were challenged to score as many goals as possible in five minutes. Throughout the tour over 3000 prizes were given away with the fastest hurling shots being recorded by Donal McCotter, La Salle College Belfast, at 89mph, Connlaodh McNeill St MacNissis College Carnlough, at 88mph and Ciaran Clarke and Niall McFadden Cross & Passion Ballycastle, at 87mph.

St Paul's High School Bessbrook and St Mary's Grammar School Magherafelt were overall joint winners scoring 80 points in the shoot out and both receive a prize of sports training equipment on behalf of their school.

Peter continued, 'We are really delighted to recognise the talent and skills of all the students who took part in our Goal Post tour and in particular the representatives of the overall winners from St Paul's and St Mary's who are here today. The competition itself was extremely competitive with over 15,000 students taking part over a period of six months. The challenge was for the students to test their own skills against their peers as well as having a lot of fun in the process'.

Nominations for the BT Genius Bursary can be made by teachers / coaches on behalf of eligible students. Online application forms can be found on the Ulster Colleges website www.ulstercolleges.gaa.ie T&C's apply. Applications for this year's awards will close on 27th May 2010 and winners will be announced in June 2010.