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2010 Athlone Community College Student Awards Ceremony

The salubrious setting of the Clonmacnoise Suite in the Hodson Bay Hotel was the venue for the Annual Student Awards on Thursday 19th May 2010.

Invited guests, students, parents and teachers were given a classical greeting from the college orchestra whose dulcet tones provided a relaxing introduction to a night of prestigious awards.

Mr Kieran Duffy, master of ceremonies for the evening engaged the audience with his blend of serious comment, wit, humour and repartee.

Mrs Eileen Donohoe presided over her first awards ceremony as Principal bringing to a close one of the most successful years in the history of the college. She acknowledged the great work of staff and students in the college and acknowledged the excellent support of Mr Val O'Connor, Chief Executive Officer and ex-Principal who has been a frequent visitor to the college since taking up his executive position with Westmeath VEC last December.

Mr. Tom Whyte (Deputy Principal), Mr. Michael Murphy (RTÉ News Broadcaster), David Cunningham (Academic Excellence Award), Mr. Val O Connor CEO and Mrs. Eileen Donohoe (Principal). Photographed by Clare Frances Cassells.

Guest Speaker of the evening was Mr Michael Murphy, RTÉ News Broadcaster, Psychoanalyst and Author. Mr Murphy addressed his student audience on the importance of acknowledging their own success and cherishing the awards bestowed upon them as symbols of their individual greatness.

Mr Murphy documented his own life as an achiever and one who pursued excellence, despite the occasional minor blip and the major threat from prostrate cancer. Mr Murphy also read from his book and dedicated a poem to the Leaving Certificate class of 2010 at Athlone Community College.

Naomi Lennon received the Academic Excellence award. Also in picture are Mr. Michael Murphy (RTÉ News Broadcaster), Mrs. Eileen Donohoe (Principal) and Mr. Tom Whyte (Deputy Principal). Photographed by Clare Frances Cassells.	Mr. Dermot Horan, Bank of Ireland, Mrs. Eileen Donohoe (Principal), Ciaran O Connor (Male Student of the Year), Bronwyn Reid McDermott (Female Student of the Year), and Mr. Tom Whyte (Deputy Principal). Photographed by Clare Frances Cassells.

Mr Val O'Connor, as an invited guest, addressed the audience and complimented the work of Mrs Eileen Donohoe as Principal and Mr Tom Whyte as Deputy Principal. He spoke of his enormous respect for the college, its staff and students and his delight in the many successes of the college.

The awards commenced with Excellent Attendance Awards in Senior Cycle going to Hafees Adagun, Naomi Lennon and James Collins. An award for full attendance over 5 years went to Nathan Carney.

This was followed by an award for Best Engineering Project which was presented to Domhnall Sweeney.

Niamh Campbell, Gavin Ward and Sorcha McManus receive the Best Junior Cert. Award for 2009 from Maria Carney (Assistant Principal). Photographed by Clare Frances Cassells.	Colin Barrett receives The Principals award from Mr. Dan McCarthy, Chairman of Westmeath VEC. Also in picture: Mrs. Eileen Donohoe (Principal) and Mr. Tom Whyte (Deputy Principal). Photographed by Clare Frances Cassells

Micheal Fallon received the Agricultural Science Award while Sean Coyle received an award in Construction Studies. The Home Economics Student of the Year was Lisa Milton and Michael Maloney became the Leaving Certificate Applied Student of the Year.
David Ward and Patrick Moran received the Maureen O'Brien Memorial Award for the Arts and Hugh Nolan was awarded the Literary and Humanities Trophy.

For his positive influence on his peers and leadership qualities Colin Barrett received the Principal’s Award. Claire Gibbons and Stephen McGettigan were recipients of the Brendan O'Brien Memorial Gold Medal for Good Conduct.

Niamh Campbell, Sorcha McManus and Gavin Ward the best Junior Certificate 2009 Award. Each student received 9 As.

Caoimhe McManus who now studies Speech and Language Therapy in Trinity College, received Best Leaving Certificate of 2009. Naomi Lennon and David Cunningham were recipients of Academic Excellence Awards while Bronwyn Reid-McDermott and Ciaran O'Connor received Student of the Year Awards, sponsored by Bank of Ireland.

Caoimhe McManus receives the Best Leaving Certificate 2009 Award. Also in picture: Mrs. Eileen Donohoe (Principal) and Maria Carney (Assistant Principal). Photographed by Clare Frances Cassells.	Lisa Milton receives the Home Economics Student of the Year Award from Ms. Hazel Hannon, teacher of English and History at the College. Photographed by Clare Frances Cassells

Special Recognition Awards were presented to each member of the All-Ireland Mental Health Public Speakers and Concern Debating Winners 2010.

In the area of Sport, Shane McInerney, Tom O' Halloran and Robert Murray were recognized for their role in International Soccer, while Mark Roche, Coman O'Connell, James Collins and Colin Barrett were honoured for their Rowing success.

Memories of the 2009/2010 Musical – High School Musical – were captured in the final performance of the night “We’re all in this together”.

Pictures accompanying this article were photographed by Clare Frances Cassells