Westmeath native Carl is a recipient of the Una McDermot Bursary and praises the benefits of experience gained through work placement on the course
Carl Maycock, a past pupil of St.Marys C.B.S, Mullingar, Co Westmeath is one of 2 students at National Botanic Gardens (WIT) to be awarded the Una McDermott Bursary. The 3rd year student is studying Horticulture.
In his scholarship application Carl outlined: Following several years after school, working various jobs, and travelling, I gained employment with Tom Leavy of Leavy Landscapes, where I quickly fell in love with plants and horticulture. In 2017 I decided to enroll in the level 5 horticulture course at the Belvedere school of horticulture, where under the tutoring of John Smith and Valerie Beck, my obsession with plants grew much stronger. After completing the level 5 course, I applied for the level 7 course at the National Botanical Gardens in Glasnevin, where I began in September 2018.
As part of our second semester in second year, we are required to complete 15 weeks of work experience, of which I applied for a position with Summerhill Landscapes, a very well renowned landscape design and maintenance company, based out of the Hamptons in New York. I applied for the Una McDermott travel Bursary to help me achieve this goal.
Una McDermott Bursary
Carl explains why he applied for the Una McDermott Scholarship/Bursary: “Getting to complete my work experience with a company such as Summerhill Landscapes would be an amazing learning experience for me, and getting the travel bursary would be a huge help towards making it possible. I love studying horticulture at the Botanics, especially plant ID, garden maintenance and design, and the science subjects.”
His dreams for the future include: To further his education by achieving the level 8 in Horticulture, and possibly a Masters level degree. To then gain some years’ experience in the Horticulture industry, as a Garden design and maintenance specialist, and eventually pursue a career in education as a horticulture lecturer.
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