DURING the official opening of the new South West College Erne Campus, a new scholarship was launched in memory of Gary Bennett, a consultant on the Erne project who passed away in December, 2019.

Launching the Gary Bennett Scholarship, Eimear Grugan – Project Sponsor – paid tribute to the late Mr. Bennett, who tragically died following a road traffic accident shortly before Christmas on December 11, 2019.

Mr. Bennett was the managing director of Bennett Robertson Design, now Bennett Frehill, the mechanical and electrical consultant appointed for the Erne Project.

Describing Mr. Bennett as "the person shaping the engineering strategy for the campus", Eimear said: "The college wants to pay tribute to Gary's contribution to the Erne project by way of inaugurating an annual scholarship in his memory and in his name.

"Gary shone his light over our project and provided specialist advice on the integration of environmentally-friendly technologies into the design of the Erne Campus.

"Gary was the driver behind the Passivhaus strategy for the building and the day when the Passivhaus institute in Germany confirmed that the Erne Campus had been awarded the Passivhaus Premium accreditation – a momentous achievement – was a bittersweet moment of celebration, because Gary wasn't there to share such a significant project milestone."

The Gary Bennett Scholarship acknowledges Mr. Bennett for his contribution and enthusiasm for the Erne Campus project.

It will be awarded at the Higher Education Graduation Ceremony in June, 2022, and annually thereafter to the top student in the School of the Natural and Built Environment graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering Honours Foundation Degree in Building Services with Sustainable Energy.