Former Pupil Selected for Washington-Ireland Program

As America prepares for crucial mid-term elections, Shauna Wood, a second year medical student at Queen’s University and a former student of Glenlola Collegiate, will join a class of 30 student participants representing Northern Ireland and Ireland in Washington, DC, this summer as part of the Washington-Ireland Program (WIP).

WIP is a cross-community and cross border organisation that identifies promising young people with a commitment to service and a track record of leadership. WIP builds their skills through work experience, educational opportunity and hands-on citizenshipp both at home and in the US.

In a year of notable global events, the Washington Ireland Program also has cause to celebrate.  2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of the programme and WIP will be holding a series of events on both sides of the Atlantic to celebrate this milestone.

The WIP class of 2014 was highly competitive with over four hundred students from across the island and Great Britain competing for the opportunity to take part in the programme.  After the completion of the Washington semester, the graduates will go on to become part of the active WIP alumni network who are working to make a positive difference in their communities.

Shauna says:

“I feel so fortunate and excited to be travelling to DC this summer. I will be working with Eli Lilly, a leading pharmaceutical company. I know it will be an inspiring experience and I aim to make the best use my new skills back in NI.”

Hillary Clinton is one of a number of influential supporters of the Washington Ireland Program and its students:

“Many of WIP’s alumni are now emerging as a new generation of leaders committed to peace, stability and prosperity in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.”

If you would like to track the progress of Shauna and others this summer you can follow their blogs and view photos at www.wiprogram.org.