Thousands of students graduating from University of Limerick have been urged to ‘embrace curiosity, question the world around you, and never stop learning’.
Over 3,600 students are graduating from the faculties of Education and Health Sciences, Science and Engineering, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Kemmy Business School across the coming five days.
Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan, TD, was a special guest at the ceremony this Monday at the first of the Autumn Conferring ceremonies.
Speaking to the graduates, who now join almost 130,000 alumni worldwide, Professor Shane Kilcommins, Acting Chief Officer, Provost and Deputy President, wished them well as they embark “on a new journey that holds endless possibilities”.
“Through your education here at UL, you have honed your skills and broadened your knowledge to allow you question and explore what the world has to offer.
“There is a timeless wisdom that speaks to the power of curiosity and the importance of being open-minded as you step into your chosen careers.
“Embrace curiosity, question the world around you, and never stop learning. Be proud of yourselves, for you have earned this moment of celebration.”
In an address to the newly conferred students, Minister O’Donovan, himself a graduate of UCC and Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, said it was a “significant milestone in your academic journey”.
“Today is testament to your hard work, dedication and perseverance. It is a very significant achievement and milestone in your lives, and you should all be extremely proud of what it is you have accomplished here in UL.
“As you step forward into the next chapter of your lives, remember the world is in constant need of innovation, creativity, courage and expertise.
“The knowledge and the skills you have acquired here at UL are the foundations upon which you will build your future careers and contribute to the wider society. I am confident that each one of you will make a real and lasting impact,” Minister O’Donovan added.
One of the thousands of students graduating this week was Mary O’Donnell, from Fermoy, who was awarded a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering.
Inspired by Ireland’s first astronaut, Norah Patten, who also studied aeronautical engineering at UL, Mary chose to follow her footsteps, drawn not only by UL’s academic reputation but also by its world-class sports facilities.
“I was a competitive swimmer at the time, and UL’s sports facilities, especially the National Centre swimming pool just made perfect sense,” Mary explained.
Her time at UL saw her interests evolve, and her experiences during co-op allowed Mary to explore her curiosity and passions even further.
“I started college wanting to become an astronaut, but during my co-op at Boeing, I got really interested in the aviation industry, particularly the hands-on factory work. I found that sitting down and working in front of a computer didn’t suit me. I really enjoyed being on the factory floor.”
However, it was Mary’s newfound passion for triathlon that truly merged her love for sports with her engineering skills. A UL Sports Scholar who recently completed an Iron Man competition in Sweden, she steps into her new role as an aerodynamicist and the first female on the team at Kú Cycle, a high-performance bicycle manufacturer.
“Triathlon has a huge emphasis on aerodynamics which is what I was learning about. I knew all about coefficient drag and streamlining things, and I was able to relate this to sports and triathlon training. It was then I realised I could combine my interests. My master’s thesis was based on aerodynamic bike fitting,” she added.
“I am excited to see how this career in sports pans out. It’s a semi-pro programme now, but who knows? Maybe one day I’ll be the first triathlete to compete in space, just like American astronaut Sunita Williams who ran the Boston Marathon in space.”
