U.S. Navcommsta Londonderry Alumni Association

Objective of  "The 500 Club" 

        To provide academic scholarships for deserving students who are residents of Derry, Northern Ireland.

History 

       A discussion held during the General Membership Meeting at the 2005 Orlando Reunion concerning the possibility of creating a scholarship fund for deserving students from the hometown of our "Old Base" as a means of giving something back to "The Town That We Loved So Well" was the impetus for the creation of the Association's Scholarship Fund. Following that discussion, a small group of members committed to donating $100 per year over the next 5 years in support of the scholarship and promptly named themselves "The 500 Club." Rather catchy name, don't you think?

        Following the Orlando Reunion, the Alumni Association's Board of Directors created a committee, the Scholarship Program Committee, to design and implement a Scholarship Program. At the April 2006 Board of Directors meeting the board approved the Scholarship Program Committee recommendation for an initial funding of the Scholarship Fund in the amount of £1,000 per year for the years: 2006, 2007, and 2008, with the hopes of extending it further based upon financial resources.

        The Scholarship Program Committee plan is to work with the Western Education Library Board (WELB), and other relevant institutions, to solicit assistance in developing a mutually acceptable award selection process. Alternative plans include donating equal amounts to the following Derry area schools:  Londonderry, Foyle, Thornhill, and St. Columbs Colleges.

        Funding for the support of these scholarships would come from the following sources: The "500 Club" members, other member donations made to the Scholarship Fund, and monies from the "Scholarship Fund Raffles" held during each of our Alumni Association Reunions. 

How you can help this worthwhile effort

        We certainly understand that not all members will find it possible to participate in "The 500 Club".  So, if that is not an option for you, please know that any donation you can make, regardless of the amount, would be gratefully accepted and much appreciated.

        Should you wish to join "The 500 Club" - or should you wish to make a donation to this worthwhile program - your check made payable to U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry Alumni Association, or USNLAA for short, with a notation "Scholarship Fund" should be mailed to:

U.S. NAVCOMMSTA Londonderry Alumni Association
P.O. Box 108
New Boston, MI 48164-0108

The Year 2009 Derry Scholarship Committee

        All questions concerning this Scholarship Program should be directed to the Scholarship Program Committee members: Dennis Kolodziej, at e-mail: ford427@peoplepc.com and Jim Sullivan, at e-mail: Sully1944@gmail.com

2007 Updates

After discussions with the WELB and their recommendations, a letter of introduction and our scholarship proposal was sent to Mr. Seamus Murphy, Director, of the NorthWest Institute of Further and Higher Education. The assignment of working out the details with the NCSLAA Scholarship Committee was turned over to Mrs. Vera Goodman, Head of Staff and Student Services. Criteria selection was finalized and four candidates, two males and two females, were selected by the NWIFHE, based on the following:

(NORTH WEST INSTITUTE OF FURTHER & HIGHER EDUCATION)

NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE

US NavCommSta Londonderry Alumni Association – Establishment of Scholarship Fund

Criteria for selection:

A selection of at least 2 female students and 2 male students who fulfill both 1 and 2 below, plus one or more of 3, 4, and 5, below. An award of £250 will be made to each of the 4 students selected. These selections to be made by the Course Co-ordinators or Course Teams and names forwarded to Charlie McKeown, Head of Students Services.

1. Computing & IT and Engineering Students attending National Diploma at the Derry/Londonderry location – a student that has progressed from year 1 to year 2 and is now attending the second term of year 2.
2. A student that has shown good progress.
3. A student that has considered leaving due to financial difficulty or a student who has experienced financial problems in year 1 but stayed on course.
4. A student who is working part-time to finance their study.
5. A student who has potential to go into higher education and where an incentive would provide the motivation.

July 2007 Update

A formal presentation of the awards are to be made on Wed. August 1st at the Grand Gala Reception, City Hotel, Derry.

 

August 2007 Update

Formal presentation of the awards were made on Wed. August 1st at the Grand Gala Reception, City Hotel, Derry. The recipients for 2007 are Craig Inglis, Tracey Flanagan, Peter Wade, and Charlene Hayes. Congratulations!

 

Photo Credit: Derry Journal - 7 Aug 07

Link to Derry Journal article dated 2 Oct 2007
"US Navy Alumni Scholarships for local students" :  VIEW

 

October 2008 Update

Per Ms. Judith Gorman, North West Regional College - Head of Staff and Student Services, the recipients for 2008 are:

* Andrew Duncan has completed the First Diploma in Manufacturing
Engineering with distinction grades in all units. Andrew has progressed
onto the National Diploma in Engineering. Andrew is a mature student
married with 2 children.

* Sinead Coyle has completed the First Diploma in Manufacturing
Engineering with some excellent grades. Sinead has taken up a place on
the National Diploma in Engineering and is progressing well.

* Gary McGillan has completed the National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering with very good grades and has progressed onto the Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering where he is doing well.

* Noel Brown has completed the National Diploma in Manufacturing
Engineering with very good grades also. He has progressed onto the
Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and doing well.

Congratulations to all!

 

Link to NWRC Website article dated 18 November 2008
"Excellence in Engineering US Navy Alumni Scholarship for North West Regional College Students" :  VIEW

 

 

Group Photo

Andrew Duncan

Sinead Coyle

Gary McGillan

Noel Brown

[Photo Credits - (5) Judith Gorman - NWRC]

 

December 2009 Update

Link to NWRC Website article dated 11 December 2009
"Engineering Students Receive US Scholarships - US Navy Alumni Scholarship for College Engineering Students":  VIEW

Link to Londonderry Sentinel Website article dated 16 December 2009
"Students engineer US Scholarships": 
VIEW

 

Group Photo

College Students who were this years recipients of the NavComm (US Naval Communication Station Londonderry Alumni Association) Scholarship Awards. L-R Lecturer John Pollock, Eunan O'Neill, Paul Black, Danny Laverty, Head of School , Alan Grant, Calum Morrison, Assistant Director, David Gillespie and Lecturer Garry Mallett.

 

 

Eunan O'Neill

 

Paul Black

 

Alan Grant

 

David Gillespie

[Photo Credits - (5) Charlie McKeown - NWRC]

 

October 2010 Update

Per Ms. Judith Gorman, North West Regional College - Head of Student Services Reception, the recipients for 2010 are:

* Donna Browne of Derry, in year 2 of a National Diploma in Engineering

* Sian McClean of Derry, in year 2 of a National Diploma in IT Practioners

* Asheline McCloskey of Strabane, in year 2 of a National Diploma in IT Practioners

* Mark Sheils of Limavady, in year 2 of a National Diploma in Engineering.

Congratulations to all!

 

Link to NWRC Website article dated 26 October 2010
"4th Annual US Navy Scholarships for College students"

:  VIEW

 

Group Photo

Donna Browne

Sian McClean

Asheline McCloskey

Mark Sheils

[Photo Credits - (5) Judith Gorman - NWRC]

 

 

July 2011 Update

Per Ms. Judith Gorman, North West Regional College - Head of Student Services Reception, the recipients for 2011 are:

* Damien Barr, in Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering

* Robert Grant, in Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering

* Zara Lord, in Level 3 Extended Diploma for IT Practioners

* Adrian Wallace, in Level 3 Extended Diploma for IT Practioners

Congratulations to all!

 

Link to NWRC Website article dated 28 July 2011
"College Students Collect Final US NavComm Awards"

:  VIEW

 

Group Photo

Damien Barr

Robert Grant

Zara Lord

Damien Barr

Robert Grant

Zara Lord

[Photo Credits - (7) Judith Gorman - NWRC]

 

 

October 2012 Update

Per Ms. Judith Gorman, North West Regional College - Head of Student Services Reception, the recipients for 2012 are:

* Adam Hurrell, in Level 3 Extended Diploma for IT Practioners

* Breandan O'Hara, in Level 3 Extended Diploma for IT Practioners

* Mark Taylor, in Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering

* Olivia Wyer, in Level 3 Extended Diploma in Engineering

Congratulations to all!

 

Link to NWRC Website article dated 11 October 2012
"U.S. Honours NWRC Students"

:  VIEW

 

Link to Derry Journal article dated 8 October 2012
"US Navy Alumni group recognises NWRC students"

:  VIEW

 

Group Photo

Adam Hurrell

Breandon O'Hara

Mark Taylor

[Photo Credits - (4) Judith Gorman - NWRC]

 

2005 - 2007  "500 Club"  Members