SOME September sixth-year students will have the opportunity to compete for the Sir John Arnott Scholarship for Personal Excellence. This new scholarship, which is to be awarded annually by the American College, Dublin, will provide half the tuition fees for one of the college's degree programmes.

The scholarship will be awarded to the student who best displays the qualities of honesty, integrity and respect for peers, parents and teachers. The winner must also demonstrate respect for property, animals and the environment.

Sir John Arnott, the noted 19th century philanthropist, became the proprietor of The Irish Times after the death of its founder, Major Knox, in 1873. Sir John came from Scotland to settle in Cork in 1835. He served as MP for Kinsale and as Lord Mayor of Cork. During his life he built up extensive business interests which included retailing, baking, brewing and shipping.

Lady Annie Arnott, whose children are Sir John's great, great grandchildren, is supporting the scholarship with specially designed medals. The scholarship is significant, she says, in that it gives recognition to personal values rather than simply academic talents. "On his death in 1898, Sir John was described by The Irish Times as a man of `strict integrity, clear vision and simple-mindedness'," she says. "But many of the important human values that he espoused are considered old-fashioned by today's young people."

The scholarship is being awarded on the basis of these values to underline their continued importance, she says. "Because our system is so exam-focused we tend to overlook how important these values are." The American College is inviting schools to enter the competition. Students and teachers in each school are required to elect two students who best represent the qualities of integrity, honesty and respect for other people. These students will then submit essays to the American College on a designated theme. The final selection will be made after a shortlist of candidates has been interviewed.

However, the winner must satisfy the college's entry requirements - two C3s in higher papers and four passes in either higher or ordinary papers for degree programmes and five passes in either higher or ordinary papers for the national certificate in humanities. The American College's degree programmes include BAs in liberal arts, international business, behavioural science and international tourism.