The Award programme was established in 1985, International Youth Year, by the Government as a challenge from the President of Ireland to young people to set and pursue personal goals in Community Involvement, Personal Skills, Physical Recreation and an Adventure Journey with the support of an adult leader.
The Award was launched in Áras an Uachtaráin in October 1985 by the President, Dr. Patrick J. Hillery who was the Award’s founding patron.
It is 25 years since the first group of Loreto Letterkenny students received their Bronze Awards from President Dr.Hillery in 1988 at a ceremony in the Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross.
Since then the Award has grown and currently there are more than 20,000 new applicants to the Award programme each year nationally.
This year in Loreto Letterkenny, 92 Students received the Bronze Award and 8 students received Silver Awards. Thanks to their Award Leaders Ms. Dearbhail Keys, Ms. Bernie Sweeney and Ms. Elaine Gallagher.
Ms. Elaine Gallagher (President’s Award Leader), Mr. Michael Collins (Regional Development Officer- Gaisce) and Mrs. Susan Kenny (Principal)
Silver Award recipients Aoife Mc Dermott, Divya Ravikumar, Grace Doherty, Emma Tracey, Ailish O’Donnell, Ellen O’Donnell and Julia Chechelnitskaya.