Institute to honour its high-achieving graduates

HIGH-ACHIEVING graduates of Waterford Institute of Technology are to be honoured at a new event in the college next month.

The inaugural Alumni Icon Awards will be presented to former WIT students who have gone on to gain success at the highest levels of their chosen professions, nationally and internationally.

First to be honoured will be chief executive of One51 Philip Lynch; chief executive of mobile network company 3, Robert Finnegan; managing director of Reach Gary McManus; and Paralympic Council of Ireland chief Liam Harbison.

Looking ahead to the October 8 celebration, WIT president Professor Kieran R Byrne said it will be “a very fitting opportunity” to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of some of those who received their higher education at the institute over the last 40 years.

“While it will be four of our alumni who we honour in person on the evening, they represent many more who have reached the very top in their professional careers in this country and overseas,” Prof Byrne said.

“Indeed, we are always pleased to hear further stories of achievement from right around the world by men and women who began their journeys at our campuses and who now occupy positions of leadership in a hugely diverse range of organisations.”

Chair of Waterford Institute of Technology Alumni Icon Awards, Mailo Power, said such future leaders become ambassadors for Waterford in all they do.

“The 40-year landmark that the institute reaches this year offers a good opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved here in just four decades.”

The intention is to make this year’s ceremony an annual event at WIT.