Over 45 learners were honoured in this year’s Drogheda Institute of Further Education’s Student of the Year Ceremony with keynote speakers at the event, Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS and Martin O’Brien, CE of Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) paying tribute to the fantastic success of the graduates.
The prestigious ceremony celebrates the contributions and extraordinary paths of graduates, through the presenting of a Student of the Year award to a selection of outstanding students from the 2022/2023 cohort.
The awards ceremony also saw 18 graduates of the Data Centre Technician Programme which is run in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) included in the ceremony for the conferring of their academic programme.
These awards were introduced by Claire O’Sullivan of AWS with Sadie Ward Mc Dermott, Director of Further Education and Training in LMETB presenting the overall AWS award for the Student of the Year.
This was a momentous occasion with representatives from both DIFE and AWS acknowledging the great success and incredible achievements of learners throughout the programme.
Martin O Brien, CEO of LMETB, commended the student’s dedication, work ethic and achievement in developing a career for themselves and acknowledged the programme as a superb vehicle of focused collaboration between further education and industry, leading to tangible and meaningful change for people in the region.
Also graduating was a cohort of Pharmacy Technician graduates who were awarded a Pearson-BTEC Diploma presented by Ruairí Ó Murchú TD. Certificates and Trophies were presented by Andrew Brownlee to the graduates from a variety of courses for the overall DIFE student of the year Award Ceremony.
Aishling Brown, Level 6 Animal Science graduate won the Oliver Tully overall student of the year award which was presented by Eileen Tully, Mayor off Drogheda.
Aisling encapsulates all the qualities of an exemplary student and was recognised by both her peers and teaching staff in the college. After completing a degree in Genetics, Aisling returned to DIFE to commence studies in animal care, an area she has a great passion for.
Aisling was an outstanding student, with an incredible desire to learn and took great pride in both her studies and work. She was a diligent, confident student who excelled in her academic studies and was both an inspiration to her classmates and staff alike.
Aisling represented DIFE on Erasmus in Malaga last February, making a lasting impression in her placement, culminating in an offer of employment. We wish Aisling success in the next exciting chapter of her education and have no doubt Aisling will excel in whatever path she chooses.
The Kiara Duncan Perpetual Trophy was presented to Mary Lawal, Beauty Therapy Level 6, presented by Cllr Sharon Tolan.
This trophy is dedicated to Kiara, a former Beauty Therapy student in DIFE, who died tragically in a road traffic accident in Australia in 2007. Following Kiara’s passing, the Beauty Department created The Kiara Duncan Memorial Trophy in her memory.
Every year since Kiara’s passing it has been presented to the student who has shown outstanding commitment, enthusiasm, and willingness to embrace the opportunities presented to them in their studies. Mary Lawal was identified as an extremely deserving recipient of this prestigious award given her outstanding performance within her studies.
Additionally, Joe Thomas, a partner at O’Reilly Thomas Solicitors presented a bursary award to Pre-University Law and Criminology graduate Michael Ricardo Chiriac who excelled in his studies in Law and Criminology.
DIFE Principal Davy McDonnell congratulated all the graduates present on their achievements and wished the overall class of 2022/2023 every success in their future endeavors. Pauline Sheeran and her committee was also commended for organising the momentous event.
Applications for full time courses commencing in September 2024 in Drogheda Institute are now open. Applications are invited from prospective students through the college website: www.dife.ie
