What's the news?
Ten of Ireland's most promising young people could win a free Nissan car or van for a year, as part of the third instalment of the Nissan Generation Next ambassador programme.
Started in 2014, the scheme sees ten brand new, taxed and insured Nissans given to the brightest names in industry, sports and the arts.
All applicants have to do is convince a panel of judges - and the general public - that having the use of a Nissan car or van for a year would help them become one of 'the next generation of leaders and champions'.
James McCarthy, Nissan Ireland's CEO, said: "We are looking for people who are confident, focused and passionate about what they do in life and who could use a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan to help them achieve their goals. Nissan Generation Next is designed to support ambitious people who are driven to succeed. We have already put 20 of Ireland's new generation of leaders and champions on the road to success."
In the class of 2015 were Gareth Sheridan, founder of Nutriband, Arthur Lanigan O'Keeffe, a gold medal-winning Irish pentathlete, fashion designer Rebecca Marsden, and BT Young Scientists and Technology Exhibition winners Ciara Judge, Emer Hickey and Sophie Healy-Thow.
James McCarthy added: "Nissan Generation Next ambassadors exemplify what it takes to make it on the national and world stage. They forge ahead with tenacity and determination and their ability to focus on what they want to achieve, and to overcome the obstacles and challenges that they encounter is truly inspirational."
Anything else?
Anyone interested in applying for Nissan Generation Next 2016 should head over to www.nissangenerationnext.ie. Applications can come from hopefuls themselves, or even family members or friends nominating someone they think is worthy. The closing date is Tuesday, May 10th, 2016, and a shortlist of 20 candidates will be announced soon after that, each going forward to a four-week public voting phase. The seven top finishers in the voting phase will gain a place, with three more selected from the Nissan judges.
You can enjoy a short video promoting the Nissan Generation Next programme, featuring Arthur Lanigan O'Keeffe, right here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnRgsGsI89Q