UCD students win 33 awards at annual NUI awards
By Amy Boyle | Nov 26 2013
The annual National University of Ireland (NUI) Awards Ceremony, 2013, was held on Tuesday, November 12th in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Some of the highest achieving students and graduates from Ireland’s universities and recognised colleges competed for awards and scholarships across a wide range of disciplines.The awards acknowledge students for outstanding achievements and determination in their fields of study. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students can compete for the awards and scholarships, which this year were valued at €800,000.These went to students and graduates from UCD, NUI Galway (NUIG), NUI Maynooth (NUIM), University College Cork (UCC), National College of Art & Design (NCAD), the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), and St. Angela’s College. The Chancellor of the National University of Ireland, Dr Maurice Manning, was at the ceremony to present the awards.Dr Manning emphasised the importance of encouraging and supporting academic excellence. He also expressed the impact of the benefits these studies and innovations will provide in the future.Manning went on to praise the students, saying, “We are pleased to be able to provide these scholarships and awards to encourage, support and reward students in all of our constituent bodies in the pursuit of new knowledge and forms of expression, not simply for their own sake, but ultimately so that their innovations can benefit our culture, our economy, and our citizens.”Funding for 11 major PhD studies were also presented at the ceremony through NUI Travelling Studentships. The Studentships will enable students to undertake vital research in disciplines such as Music, History, Biomedical Engineering and Ophthalmology.The NUI Travelling Studentships allow graduates to take on postgraduate research abroad in the most reputable universities while working towards a doctoral degree. It is also possible for the students who receive the Travelling Studentships to complete their doctorate here in Ireland by registering with a NUI where the research programme involves a period or several periods abroad.Other awards presented on the day included the Mansion House Fund Scholarships in Irish and Irish History, the Denis Phelan Scholarship for doctoral studies, the Dr Mary L. Thornton Scholarship in Education and the Dr H.H. Stewart Literary and Medical Scholarships. UCD graduates and students received a total of 33 awards. These included honors in a wide range of disciplines.Steven Balbirnie, Conal Ryan, and Anita Wester were awarded the NUI Travelling Studentships, while Sarah Hillis was given the Mary L. Thornton NUI Scholarship in Education.Seventeen Dr Henry Hutchinson Stewart Medical Scholarships and Prizes were also awarded to UCD students, in addition to seven Dr H.H. Stewart Literary Scholarships and Prizes.Garry O’Brien was awarded the NUI Pierce Malone Scholarships, while the French Government Medal and NUI Prizes for Proficiency in French went to Muireann Ní Cheannabhain. Eoin C. McEvoy, also from UCD, claimed a Mansion House Fund Scholarship in Irish.