Lismore student receives award from Bill Clinton

Former USA President Bill Clinton presented Sandra Fontes with the award, worth at least £22,500, at a ceremony in the University of Limerick.

Sandra received the prestigious J.P. McManus Scholarship Award, presented to students who have overcome difficulties to achieve excellence in their A Level examinations.

Sandra came to Ireland from Portugal in September 2006 with very little English, and started in Lismore in September 2008.

Taking four A Levels at the school last August in Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Maths she gained three A*s, and one A grade. She also got an A grade in AS Portuguese while at Lismore.

She is currently studying Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University in Belfast.

The impressive presentation ceremony, held in Limerick University’s Concert Hall, was attended by a range of Ministers from the Irish government and by John O’Dowd and Stephen Farry, Northern Ireland Assembly Ministers.

It brought together 25 students from Northern Ireland and 100 students from the Republic of Ireland to receive their presentations.

Sandra was one of only four students from County Armagh to be awarded a J.P. McManus Scholarship Award this year.

Her younger sister, Daniela, currently attends Lismore and her family and school are very proud of her achievement.