Secondary School Students Receive TAP Educational Achievement Awards

Posted on: 13 May 2011

Over 325 second level students received Educational Achievement Awards organised by the Trinity Access Programmes recently in recognition of their academic excellence and hard work in school.  The Educational Achievement Awards are given to Junior Cycle and Transition Year students (13 – 16 year olds) in schools linked to the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP). 

The event, which took place in the Dining Hall at Trinity College, featured guest speaker and legendary broadcaster Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh who delighted the students, their parents and other guests with tales of sporting heroes, Irish poetry and words of wisdom from Irish seanfhocal.  Each of the students were commended for their outstanding commitment and diligence to their work and for the potential they show as future students of Trinity College.  

Some of the projects selected this year included a scientific investigation into the correlation between physical activity and academic achievement; a research project on the work which is undertaken in dog shelters around Ireland; an illustrated fairytale; a history of the boxing club in Drimnagh; establishment of a mini-company; a report on the history of Irish dancing; a report on Rihanna – a student’s favourite singer; a collection of poetry; and a history project about Australia. 

In addition to the TAP Educational Achievement Awards six students have been selected as recipients of the Salters Sterling Gold Medal Award.  Salters Sterling, a former staff member of TCD and a founding member of the Trinity Access Programmes, was a visionary who was committed to opening up Trinity College to a more diverse student body.  The transition year students selected for the Salters Sterling Gold Medal Award showed a great sense of civic-mindedness and purposefulness in their classrooms, schools and communities, standing out as the leaders of tomorrow.

Winners of the Salters Sterling Gold Medal Award with Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Provost, Dr John Hegarty.

TAP works intensively with 20 primary and a further 20 secondary schools in the inner city and greater Dublin area, promoting academic achievement through  campus based and school based activities which aim to encourage students to go to college.  Each year approximately 4000 students attend events organised by TAP.  There are over 500 undergraduate students now studying in TCD who have entered the college via access routes and just over 300 TAP graduates from TCD who are pursuing exciting careers, global travel opportunities and post-graduate study.