When The Liffey Trust launched the Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship at University College Cork in 2023, the goal was to support ambitious students with entrepreneurial potential and give them the opportunity to develop their ideas, skills, and futures.
Three years later, as our inaugural scholar Hugo Guenebaut completes his final year of support, it’s rewarding to hear firsthand the impact the scholarship has had on his university experience.
“The Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship has provided me with opportunities that I likely would not have had otherwise,” Hugo says.
One of the most significant benefits, he explains, has been the opportunity to build valuable connections. During his second year at UCC, Hugo was invited to speak at the Cork University Foundation Benefactors’ Lunch, where he met professionals working in industries that interest him, including the Head of Engineering at Qualcomm.
“The most significant of these has been the chance to network with remarkable people,” he says. “I was also given the opportunity to meet fellow Scholars in Dublin, where we discussed our respective ventures and skill sets. It was an inspiring experience to be surrounded by such driven and talented students and entrepreneurs.”
For The Liffey Trust, creating opportunities like these is an important part of the scholarship’s purpose. Financial support is only one element, helping students expand their networks, gain confidence, and access new opportunities is equally important.
Hugo believes the scholarship has also strengthened his professional prospects.
“Throughout my work placement applications, I was successful in securing every position I applied for, and I believe the scholarship played a role in that. A private scholarship makes a strong statement on a CV, and it has helped open doors to opportunities I may not have accessed otherwise.”
Perhaps most encouraging is the impact the scholarship has had on Hugo’s confidence and motivation.
“Knowing that others believe my future is worth investing in has been a genuine source of motivation. It has encouraged me to work harder and to set more ambitious goals for myself.”
He also points to one often-overlooked benefit: time.
“On top of all this, it has provided me with time that I might have otherwise spent working to earn the funds for university. Time that I have invested in my education, my passions and my entrepreneurial ventures.”
As Hugo concludes his journey as our first UCC scholar, his experience reflects exactly what the Dr Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship was created to achieve: giving talented students the support, opportunities, and confidence to pursue their ambitions and realise their potential.
We congratulate Hugo on all he has accomplished so far and look forward to following his entrepreneurial journey in the years ahead.