SETU celebrated its annual President’s Volunteer Awards at ceremonies in Waterford and Carlow.
The awards are held in recognition of the invaluable contributions made by students who volunteer their time to better the University community.
Speaking at the Carlow Awards ceremony, Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, said, “I’m delighted to be here with you this evening to celebrate our volunteers across all campuses and acknowledge the wonderful contribution you make to enhancing university life here at SETU. The driver of your volunteerism is not the accolades you receive but rather how your actions positively impact your fellow students and staff. And for this I say a very sincere thank you on behalf of the SETU community sharing in our values and creating a culture of belonging.”
Prof. Campbell continued, “The success of this programme is self-evident and due in no small measure to the calibre of the participating students and the valuable student and academic support teams. The fact that you have given your time so willingly despite the pressures of study and other activities is a testament to your commitment and will serve you well in your future lives.”
The President’s Volunteer Awards has a longstanding tradition in Carlow and this year marked the first President’s Volunteer Awards in Waterford. There were 37 volunteers recognised across all campuses, with students awarded either a bronze, silver, or gold award based on the hours of volunteering that was undertaken. The ceremonies were a celebration of the positive impact these students have in their local communities, amongst various organisations across Ireland and within the SETU community.
Community volunteerism
Some of the volunteering undertaken included working with charities such as Oxfam, Darkness into Light, Royal National Lifeboat Institution Ireland, AsIam Autism Charity, Breast Cancer Ireland, Carlow Regional Youth Services, North Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Family Carers Ireland, while many played an active part in coaching and participated on committees within their local communities.
SETU clubs and societies
SETU greatly benefitted from volunteers who gave up their time to be the driving force behind many of the clubs and societies within SETU. Many of the volunteers recognised at SETU awards play a huge role in supporting first year students ensuring a smooth transition through our Peer mentoring programme. This positively impacts the well-being, academic success, and social integration of new students with mentors working alongside support and academic staff across university wide events to benefit the entire SETU community.
Beyond this, being a volunteer enhances employability skills, builds leadership experience, and makes students eligible to apply for SETU’s President’s Volunteer Award. Student volunteers are assisted by our Student Support Teams in SETU throughout the year to ensure they have ample opportunities and support when giving back to SETU and their local communities.
For more information on the programme, contact Mary Boylan from SETU in Carlow [email protected] or Thomas Grinsell from SETU in Waterford [email protected] .