Local graduates celebrated at MIC Ceremony of Recognition
Academic and other notable achievements of over 2,000 graduates and students were celebrated at a virtual Ceremony of Recognition which took place at Mary Immaculate College (MIC) on Friday, March 26, with several local students recipients of notable awards.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the annual three-day conferring ceremonies, which usually take place in October, had to be cancelled and in its place, students were conferred in absentia allowing them receive their parchments for employment and career progression purposes.
Bachelor of Education graduate Maeve Ahern from Fermoy, was awarded for excellence in Language and Literacy, one of a number of award recipients of graduates achieving academic excellence.
Doctoral students Louise Curtin from Doneraile and Geraldine Brassil from Charleville, were each awarded scholarships under the Irish Research Council’s Government of Ireland programme.
Primary teaching graduate Úna O’Mahony from Mallow was awarded the Peadar Cremin Fellowship, as well as an award from the Faculty of Education in recognition of her academic excellence in Early Childhood Studies.
Eight College medals were also presented to graduates who achieved first place in their programme of study, including Sarah Reynolds from Kilfinane, Co. Limerick, a graduate of the BA in Contemporary and Applied Theatre Studies programme.
Róisín Howard from Cahir, Co. Tipperary, a student on the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) programme, received the Noreen Lynch Memorial Scholarship as part of MIC’s Elite Sports Scholarship Scheme, valued at €4,000 each.
Current students at the College were also presented with awards in recognition of their academic and sporting achievements, including over 50 firstyear students who were presented with Entrance Scholarships (valued at €2,000 each) on the basis of results obtained in the 2020 Leaving Certificate.
Over 2,000 students from across 31 counties, as well international students, graduated from almost 40 different undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including 19 graduates who were conferred with doctoral awards. Over 150 graduates and current students of the College also received awards and scholarships in recognition of their academic and sporting achievements.
Congratulating all the award recipients at the virtual Ceremony of Recognition, Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC, said: “Individually and collectively, all of the students whom we honour here today embody our College’s mission - ultimately to make the world a better place through our ideas, our innovations and our engagement.”
In bringing the virtual ceremony to an end, Professor Wall imparted the following advice to the graduates and awardees, “Be open to the possibility and to the idea that deviating from an obvious path can lead you to a place you might never have considered but which could offer you immense satisfaction and reward.”