Top marks for students’ community spirit

STUDENTS at the University of Limerick were yesterday honoured for their community spirit when 82 received presentations at the inaugural President’s Volunteer Award ceremony.

UL established the awards to encourage students to engage with their communities and become lifelong believers in social responsibility. Those honoured were representative of the entire student body including undergraduate, postgraduate, international and Erasmus students.

UL president Professor Don Barry said: “In the past year, UL students and staff have given in excess of 75,000 hours of volunteer service to a range of organisations involved in local, national and international causes.

“This level of commitment has also been recognised internationally through the award of 5-Stars for Engagement by international evaluation agency, QS Stars.”

The activities of volunteers ranged from volunteer service with the Order of Malta, working with homework clubs and developing new teaching programmes to make science fun, or setting up new clubs and societies which play such an important role in student life.

Students involved are from across the country from Clare to Carlow, Donegal to Cork along with students from Germany, Portugal and USA.

Three students were selected to receive the ‘Outstanding Award’ in recognition of individuals who have made exceptional contributions to society through their volunteering work: Brendan Hoare from Ballykeeffe, Limerick; Liam Guilfoyle from Killarney; and Kieran Phipps from Douglas, Cork.

Liam, a BSc student in biological sciences, said: “Volunteering may not be paid work but it has massive personal rewards, while still being able to help other people in a real way, which I find amazing. My volunteering work has affected my whole life without exception.”