Dedicated students receive the Presidents Gaisce award

ByBrendan Grehan

STUDENTS from schools in Tallaght, Firhouse, Clondalkin and Lucan were among 148 young people from throughout Ireland who received a Silver Award from GaisceThe Presidents Award in the OReilly Theatre in Belvedere College last week.

GaisceThe Presidents Award is a personal development programme for young people which enhances confidence and wellbeing through participation in personal, physical and community challenges.

CEO of Gaisce Yvonne McKenna (left) with Silver Award recipients fron Lucan Community College and their PAL Emma N Bhriain (OBrien)

To earn their silver award, each awardee successfully completed at least 26 weeks across three of the Gaisce challenge areas of community involvement, personal skill and physical recreation.

They also undertook a three-day adventure journey, completing either a 50km walk or a 190km cycle.

Josh Whitney from Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, Jared and Jamie Tai from Firhouse Community School, Tallaght and Jialimey Vuoung from Colaiste Bride, Clondalkin all received Silver Awards.

Daire Doyle, Ben Ryan, Risn Tuohy, Emmet Bellew, Sean Egan, Declan Fahy, Laura Lakes and Lucy Reade from Lucan Community College also received Silver Awards.

The event was MCd by Spin 103.8 DJs Graham and Nathan, with the awards were presented by Yvonne McKenna, CEO of Gaisce.

CEO of Gaisce Yvonne McKenna with Jialimey Vuong and her PAL Gintare Gontyte from Coliste Bride

Ms McKenna told The Echo: I heartily congratulate the awardees on their achievements. Its fantastic to be honouring so many young people tonight for their dedication to personal development, and I think its a testament to the tenacity of young people today that we have so many awardees here.

I hope they have made lasting memories and gained invaluable self-knowledge through their Gaisce Journey. Completing a Silver Award has required a significant amount of dedication and effort from each of them.

Since its inception in 1985 over 178,000 young Irish people have completed a Gaisce Award, including former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh and Irish rugby international Robbie Henshaw.

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Dedicated students receive the President's Gaisce award - The Echo Newspaper