Maynooth University presented awards for exceptional achievement to over 120 second level students and 31 teachers from Kildare, Offaly, West Dublin and Kilkenny. The awards are granted by the Maynooth Access Programme (MAP), which works with second level schools to encourage under-represented groups to enter third level.
The MAP Second Level Awards are given to students who have shown outstanding application, dedication and progress at school, often in the face of challenging circumstances. Third year students are awarded for significant advancement in a school subject area and 6th year winners are nominated by their school. Another group of winners, 6th Year Inspirational Student Award winners, also nominate a teacher or member of their school staff for awards that recognise their extraordinary effort ability to support and inspire students to achieve their goals.
Robert Butler from Duiske College, Graiguenamanagh, received one of this year’s 6th Year Inspirational Student awards.
Pat Murphy, Principal of Duiske College, spoke at the award ceremony and said: “Robert is now a very confident young man and a most deserving recipient of this award. It is my hope that Duiske College has played a positive part in that wonderful journey that Robert has travelled so far, a journey that is really only beginning. I wish him the very best in his future career.”
Two new awards were made this year. The MAP Alumni Award was given to Dr Andrew Hogan. The MAP Undergraduate Student Award went to Bao Nguyen, a 4th year BA (International) Business and previous second level winner. The postgraduate award went to James Cawley, who is studying for his Master’s in Education.
Speaking on receipt of his award, Dr Andrew Hogan, lead scientist in the Obesity Immunology Group in St Vincent's University Hospital and a previous second-level award winner, said: “Without the access scholarship I probably would not have had the opportunity to attend university. I am eternally grateful to the MAP for the opportunity and the unconditional support which has given me a career beyond anything I ever imagined. Thank you!”
James Cawley, who entered Maynooth University through the DARE programme with a physical disability, said: “Tracking my development over the last four years has been mind-blowing for me. I have developed personally, academically and socially. Having a severe physical disability, I thought I would not be able to keep up with the workload or even attend university, now I do all of that and more, including living independently.”
Rose Ryan, Maynooth University Director of Access, said: “Maynooth University places a premium on enhancing educational participation and attainment, and the MAP Special Awards can have a powerful impact at a crucial point in the lives of student participants as well as recognising the important role of teachers in directing students towards third level achievement.”
“The MAP Second Level Awards celebrate the accomplishments of 122 amazing young people in 3rd Year and 6th Year from MAP-linked schools. The schools carefully consider their nominations based on the commitment, dedication and perseverance students have shown to their coursework, their schools and their communities,” she said.
Aitheantas tugtha ag Clár Rochtana Ollscoil Mhá Nuad do Shárghnóthachtáil daltaí agus múinteoirí dara leibhéal
Bhronn Ollscoil Mhá Nuad duaiseanna sárghnóthachtála ar bhreis agus 120 dalta dara leibhéal agus ar 31 múinteoir as Cill Dara, Uíbh Fhailí, Iarthar Bhaile Átha Cliath agus Cill Chainnigh. Bronntar na duaiseanna trí Chlár Rochtana Mhá Nuad (MAP) a oibríonn i bpáirt le scoileanna dara leibhéal chun cabhrú le grúpaí atá faoi ghannionadaíocht oideachas tríú leibhéal a bhaint amach.
Bronntar Duaiseanna Dara Leibhéal MAP ar dhaltaí a léirigh dúthracht, díograis agus dul chun cinn thar an gcoitiantacht ar scoil, in ainneoin pé dúshláin a bheadh rompu. Gnóthaíonn daltaí tríú bliain duaiseanna as dul chun cinn suntasach in ábhar scoile agus is iad na scoileanna féin a ainmníonn na buaiteoirí 6ú bliain. Tá grúpa eile buaiteoirí ann: déanann Daltaí Inspioráideacha 6ú Bliain múinteoir nó ball eile den fhoireann scoile a ainmniú i gcomhair duaiseanna a thugann aitheantas dóibh as a sáriarrachtaí agus a gcumas chun daltaí a spreagadh lena gcuspóirí a bhaint amach.
Bronnadh ceann de dhuaiseanna Daltaí Inspioráideacha 6ú Bliain na bliana seo ar Robert Butler ó Choláiste an Dubhuisce, Gráig na Manach.
Labhair Pat Murphy, Príomhoide Choláiste an Dubhuisce, le linn an tsearmanais bhronnta agus dúirt: “Inniu, is fear óg an-mhuiníneach é Robert, agus tá an duais seo tuillte go dianmhaith aige. Tá súil agam gur imir Coláiste an Dubhuisce páirt san aistear iontach atá curtha de ag Robert go dtí seo, aistear nach bhfuil ach ina thús. Guím gach rath air ina shaol oibre amach anseo.”
Rinneadh dhá dhuais nua i mbliana. Bronnadh Duais Alumni MAP ar an Dr Andrew Hogan. Ba é Bao Nguyen a ghnóthaigh Duais Mac Léinn Fochéime MAP. Is mac léinn é Bao atá sa 4ú bliain dá chéim BA (Idirnáisiúnta) sa Ghnó. Tá duais dara leibhéal bainte aige cheana. James Cawley, atá ag déanamh staidéir i gcomhair Máistreacht Oideachais, a bhain an duais iarchéime.
Is é an Dr Andrew Hogan, a bhfuil duais dara leibhéal bainte aige cheana, an t-eolaí ceannais ar an nGrúpa um Imdhíoneolaíocht Mhurtaill in Ospidéal Ollscoile Naomh Uinseann. Ag labhairt dó tar éis an duais a fháil, dúirt sé: “Murach an scoláireacht rochtana, ní dócha go mbeadh deis agam freastal ar ollscoil. Beidh mé buíoch go deo de MAP as an tacaíocht gan staonadh a tugadh dom, tacaíocht a chuir saol oibre ar fáil dom nach bhféadfainn a leithéid a shamhlú. Míle buíochas!”
Tháinig James Cawley go hOllscoil Mhá Nuad trí chlár DARE do dhaoine atá faoi mhíchumas fisiciúil. Dúirt seisean: “Is dochreidte an dul chun cinn atá déanta agam féin le ceithre bliana anuas, idir fhorbairt phearsanta, fhorbairt acadúil agus fhorbairt shóisialta. Ó tharla dian-mhíchumas a bheith orm, shíl mé nach mbeinn in ann ag an ualach oibre, nó fiú amháin freastal ar chúrsa ollscoile. Inniu, déanaim sin agus a lán eile agus cónaím go neamhspleách.”
Ba é a dúirt Rose Ryan, Stiúrthóir Rochtana Ollscoil Mhá Nuad: “ [Unknown Object] Is rud fíorluachmhar ag Ollscoil Mhá Nuad rannpháirteachas agus gnóthachtáil acadúil a mhéadú. Féadann Duaiseanna Speisialta MAP an-tionchar a bheith acu ag am cinniúnach i saol na ndaltaí a nglacann páirt iontu chomh maith le haitheantas a thabhairt don ról tábhachtach a bhíonn ag múinteoirí maidir le daltaí a spreagadh i dtreo an tríú leibhéal.”
“Ceiliúradh is ea Duaiseanna Dara Leibhéal MAP ar na héachtaí atá déanta ag 122 duine óg as an ngnách sa 3ú Bliain agus sa 6ú Bliain i scoileanna atá páirteach in MAP. Déanann na scoileanna seo an-mhachnamh sula n-ainmníonn siad daltaí. Cuireann siad san áireamh cé chomh dúthrachtach, chomh díograiseach agus chomh buanseasmhach a bhíonn daltaí i leith obair chúrsa, a gcuid scoileanna agus na pobail arb as iad,” a dúirt sí.