The Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards took place on Thursday 23rd March in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny.
The red carpet was rolled and it was an evening of style and glamour all around, as over 200 students and staff gathered to recognise and celebrate the achievements of this year’s clubs and societies at ATU Donegal.
Among the awards presented by Dr. Billy Bennett, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Registrar at ATU, were; Most Outstanding Society Member, Most Improved Society, Leadership Award, Best Society and the Civic, Charity & Community Engagement Award. In addition to society awards, there were also three highly sought after sports awards presented.
The Clubs & Societies Programme saw a significant increase in memberships and activities this year and this was reflected in the applications received for all award categories, which resulted in some tough decision making for the selection committee in choosing the winners.
Clubs & Societies Scholarships were also presented to eight student society leaders. The winners were selected from a large pool of applicants and a diverse range of clubs and societies. Each of the winners received monetary awards in recognition of their achievements.
Paul Hannigan, Head of College at ATU Donegal presented the scholarships to the winning students and complimented all clubs and societies on the significant contribution they continue to make to student life at ATU Donegal. Paul also thanked all students and staff for embracing the new entity of Atlantic Technological University during the transition from LYIT to ATU and highlighted that the university looks forward to continuing to celebrate even more over the next number of years.
Niamh McLaughlin, Donegal Senior Ladies Captain and the first Donegal recipient of the LGFA All Star Senior Players ‘Player of the Year’ Award, was the guest speaker on the night. Niamh presented the three Sports Awards. In her interview with Oisin Kelly, Niamh encouraged students to keep an open mind when embarking on the future and to embrace all opportunities that may come along while in the process of working towards ambitions and goals.
The award winners on the night were as follows:
Clubs & Societies Awards Winners
Best Society Poster 2023 – Animation Society.
Best Society Photograph 2023 – Music & Dance Society.
Award for Civic, Charity & Community Engagement 2023 – International Society.
Leadership Award 2023 – Pierce Butler, Law Society.
Most Outstanding Society Member 2023 – Purva Awasthi, Indian Students Society.
Most Improved Society 2023 – Robotics Society.
Best Society 2023 – Badminton Society.
Scholarship Winners
Pierce Butler, Law Society
Gareth Craig, Badminton Society
David Friel, Music & Dance Society
Meriem Kebayli, Law Society
William McLucas, Law Society
Dairine Rushe, Camogie Society
Aniket Shrikant Ingole, Badminton Society
Jai Min Tan, International Society
Sports Awards Winners
Ciara McGarvey (Ladies Gaelic), Female Sports Star Award
Fionn McClure (Men’s Soccer), Male Sports Star Award
Ladies Gaelic Football Team, Team of the Year
All pics by Gerard McHugh Photography.
The International Society Award winners for Civic, Charity & Community Engagement 2023 at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. Included in the photo are Front Row (l-r) Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Niam McLaughlin guest of Honour , Dr. Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
Dr. Vicky O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer ,Back row (l-r) Michael Murphy, Head of Sport ATU Donegal , Ann Marie Kelly, Academic Affairs Officer , Josephine Wilson, SU General Manager and Edward Grant, SU President. Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
The Badminton Society. winners of the Best Society 2023 at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. Included in the photo are Front Row (l-r) Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Niam McLaughlin guest of Honour , Dr. Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
Dr. Vicky O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer ,Back row (l-r) Michael Murphy, Head of Sport ATU Donegal , Ann Marie Kelly, Academic Affairs Officer , Josephine Wilson, SU General Manager and Edward Grant, SU President. Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
Leadership Award 2023 winners ,The Law Society. at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. Included in the photo are Front Row (l-r) Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Niam McLaughlin guest of Honour , Dr. Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
Dr. Vicky O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer ,Back row (l-r) Michael Murphy, Head of Sport ATU Donegal , Ann Marie Kelly, Academic Affairs Officer , Josephine Wilson, SU General Manager and Edward Grant, SU President. Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
Most Improved Society for 2023 – Robotics Society., at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. Included in the photo are Front Row (l-r) Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Niam McLaughlin guest of Honour , Dr. Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
Dr. Vicky O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer ,Back row (l-r) Michael Murphy, Head of Sport ATU Donegal , Ann Marie Kelly, Academic Affairs Officer , Josephine Wilson, SU General Manager and Edward Grant, SU President. Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
Best Society Poster 2023, at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. Included in the photo are Front Row (l-r) Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Niam McLaughlin guest of Honour , Dr. Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
Dr. Vicky O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer ,Back row (l-r) Michael Murphy, Head of Sport ATU Donegal , Ann Marie Kelly, Academic Affairs Officer , Josephine Wilson, SU General Manager and Edward Grant, SU President. Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
ATU Ladies Gaelic Football Team, Team of the Year winners at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. Pictured are Front Row (l-r)Michael Murphy head of sport ATU Donegal , Barney Curran, Ladies Gaelic Football , Rory McMorrow, Student Services Manager , Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Niamh McLaughlin guest of Honour , Dr. Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
Dr. Vicky O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer ,Middle row (l-r) Ann Marie Kelly, Academic Affairs Officer , Josephine Wilson, SU General Manager and Edward Grant, SU President. Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
Ciara McGarvey (Ladies Gaelic), Female Sports Star Award and Fionn McClure (Men’s Soccer), Male Sports Star Award winners at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Student Achievement Awards held in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. Included in the photo are Front Row (l-r) Paul Hannigan, Head of College ATU Donegal, Niam McLaughlin guest of Honour , Dr. Billy Bennett, VP Academic Affairs and Registrar
Dr. Vicky O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer ,Back row (l-r) Rory McMorrow, Student Services Manager , Michael Murphy, Head of Sport ATU Donegal , Ann Marie Kelly, Academic Affairs Officer , Josephine Wilson, SU General Manager and Edward Grant, SU President. Photo by Gerard McHugh Photography
