The student achievements of IT Sligo’s Clubs and Societies were honoured at a special awards ceremony in the Best Western South Hotel in Sligo last Thursday.
Student representatives from the Institute’s 70 clubs and societies gathered for a gala evening, which was organised in association with AIB.
Each year, the awards honour the outstanding achievements of students through their activities with clubs and societies.
IT Sligo sports scholarship student, Declan Reidy, was named male Personality of the Year for his golfing exploits over the last 12 months, which saw him secure a prestigious Royal & Ancient golfing scholarship, as well as reach the matchplay stages of this year’s West of Ireland Amateur Golf Championship at Rosses Point. The final year Business with Marketing student is also finished 4th in the R&A sports scholars tournament at the prestigous St Andrew’s course – an event which also carries world ranking points.
Newport’s Sophie Knox, a final year Mechatronics student, collected the women’s personality award for her exploits with the Institute’s badminton club.
The High Achievement awards in sport (male and female) went to World Champion kickboxer Dessie Leonard and soccer player Rachel kearns, a member of the IT Sligo women’s soccer team which reached the final of the recent Intervarsities Cup. Both students are current IT Sligo Sports Scholarship recipients.
Watersport featured prominently on the night too, with the surfing team’s Intervarsities success seeing them pick up the Club of Year accolade, while the men’s basketballers recent All-Ireland triumph saw them take home the Team of the Year prize.
The IT Sligo choir also hit the right notes, as it was named Society of the Year. The choir which was set up last September, comprises students and staff members, and has proven to be a big hit. It played a central role in the inaugural Sligo Sings Concert at the Hawk’s Well Theatre last November, and the Institute’s 1916 commemoration ceremonies in March.
In addition to the main awards, each club and society nominated as the Personality of the Year the student who contributed or achieved most through that club.
Congratulating all the award recipients, Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of IT Sligo said: “The role of Clubs and Societies has never been more central to IT Sligo’s ambition to produce rounded graduates of the highest calibre. You are leaving behind a great legacy to those students who are following behind you.”
Special guests on the night included Mayo senior gaelic football captain, and former Sigerson Cup winner with the Institute, Keith Higgins, who presented the Institute’s hurlers with their Fergal Maher Cup winners medals.
Irish women’s Soccer International Emma Hansberry, who graduated from IT Sligo last October, was among the invited guests.
Main Award Winners 2016:
Club of the Year – IT Sligo Surf Club
Society of the Year – IT Sligo Choir
Highest Achieving Sports Person of the Year (M) – Dessie Leonard
Highest Achieving Sports Person of the Year (F) – Rachel Kearns
Personality of the Year (M) – Declan Reidy
Personality of the Year (F) – Sophie Knox
Team of the Year – Men’s Basketballers.
Photo Caption:
”Winning Smiles’ – Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of IT Sligo with the Institute’s award recipients at the Clubs and Societies Awards Ceremony in Sligo.