USIT is paying tribute to its original founder by launching the Gordon Colleary Memorial Scholarship in his name.
Educated in UCD and President of the Union of Students in Ireland from 1964 to 1966, Gordon was an inspirational character in the student movement with USI. In 1959 he helped establish ‘Union of Students in Ireland Travel Bureau’ or what is now known as USIT. Two years later the first student charter headed for New York and this was the beginning of the J1 visa phenomenon. Since then, thousands of Irish students have travelled the length and breadth of the USA and beyond.
To pay tribute to Gordon, USIT is running a competition to give away a free J1 to one deserving student, who must be nominated by a friend or family member. USIT wants to hear why this student deserves a free J1. You can enter a student who you think deserves a free J1 here: https://www.usit.ie/j1-scholarship. Simply fill out the form and give a few reasons why you think they should win. Remember: you can’t enter yourself and the reasons must be genuine!
Emma Colleary, Gordon’s daughter, said that the family is delighted to be launching this scholarship in his honour. He was passionate about the benefits of the J1 work and travel programme for Irish Students. Over his long career at the head of USIT more than 200,000 students benefitted from this unique programme.
If you know someone who has already booked their J1 you can still nominate them – if they win USIT will give them their money back. The prize includes the J1 Programme fee, processing of work papers, J1 visa, insurance and return flights, so make your nomination a good one – and videos and pictures will help!
