Penarth student Jenna needs your vote... (From Penarth Times)

Penarth student Jenna needs your vote...

12:00pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Robert James Owen

A PENARTH student is appealing for votes to help her secure a bursary to fund her university studies.

Jenna Keenan has recently embarked on a five-year dentistry degree at Cardiff University, five years after she first applied for the course.

But having already completed one undergraduate degree in biomedical science just to be considered for the dentistry course, she is unable to receive any further funding via various student grants.

It leaves her having to find £9,000 a year for the course.

"I don't get any help from student finance and can't even get the Welsh Assembly learning grant, so I have to pay it all," said the 22-year-old former Stanwell pupil.

"I have already raised enough for the first year, but there is no way I can afford to do that again, meaning I won't be able to finish the course."

But Jenna - who raised money for the Apostleship of the Sea Charity last year by skydiving from 13,000ft in honour of her 'grampie', former Penarth mayor John Flanigan - is in the running to receive a £10,000 bursary from HSBC, provided she can secure enough votes on the Facebook page, HSBC students, for the giveaway.

"To enter, students had to make a 90-second video saying how the money would help them leave their stamp on the world," she explained.

"I talk about my desire to set up programmes in schools across the Vale to educate children on health and diet, and also an education centre abroad as inspired by time spent travelling.

"Voting takes less than a minute, so if people could help me out I would really appreciate it."

To vote for Jenna and help her chances of winning, follow the link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/hsbcstudents/app_311018158993637 then search Jenna Keenan, and click vote.

Closing date for votes is midnight tonight (September 28).