Gaisce President's awards for local students

By BRIAN MOORE

WEST CORK students gathered with teenagers from across the county to receive Gaisce Silver Medal President’s Awards at University College Cork (UCC) last week.

Zoe Daly from Bandon Grammer and Amy Sexton from the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Clonakilty were joined on stage to receive their awards by Olympic silver medalist and fellow West Corkonian, Gary O’Donovan.

The President’s Award is a self-development programme that encourages young people to find their passion and make a difference in their community. Every year, hundreds of driven, socially-aware and dedicated young people from around the country, between the ages of 15 and 25 step outside their comfort zone to make their community, and their country a better place.  

‘The Gaisce awardees have risen to the challenge from the President of Ireland to dream big and fulfil their potential,’ Yvonne McKenna, chief executive of Gaisce The President’s Award said. ‘They have shown enormous dedication, determination and hard work to complete their Silver Award Challenge and tonight is all about celebrating their achievements. In their pursuits, they have made Ireland a better place for a great many people.’ The Gaisce Silver Awardees successfully completed four challenge areas for 26 weeks or more - developing a personal skill, volunteering in their community and participating in physical activity. The awardees also embarked on a three-day outdoor adventure journey as part of their Gaisce Award challenge.