TAP hosts young leadership summit and Education Awards
Posted on: 03 May 2017
‘This week sees Trinity Access Programmes welcome 1,100 second level students to Trinity to showcase and celebrate their work and achievements as young leaders. These students have been part of the Trinity Access 21 (TA21) project for the past three years.
Trinity Access 21 is a joint initiative in which the Computer Science and Education Schools at Trinity, are collaborating with the Trinity Access Programmes as well as Bridge 21, to put in place a suite of interventions in schools with low income opportunities. It aims to raise educational aspirations and attainment of the students and empower them with the skills they need to succeed in education.
A number of guest speakers also spoke at the summit, including former senator and CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland, Averil Power, executive director of Equate Ireland, Michael Barron, and senior journalist with the Irish edition of The Times (UK), Ellen Coyle.
The event focused on leadership, encouraging self-confidence and self-direction in students. It also developed important skills like project and time management by engaging the students in projects that would help their schools or local communities.
‘Educational Awards
Along with the young leadership summit, TAP also hosted the annual Educational Achievement Awards this week. Over 90 junior cycle and transition year students from Delivering Equality and Opportunity Schools (DEIS) in Dublin were honoured for their academic achievements, creativity and leadership in these awards.
This is the 25th year of the TAP Educational Achievement Awards and in that time over 2,800 students have received awards. Many of these students have gone on to study at Trinity.
TAP works with 19 primary schools and a further 20 secondary schools across Dublin to promote academic achievement through campus-based and school based activities, which help students to become ready for college. Some of the schools TAP works with include Balbriggan Community College, Mercy Secondary School in Inchicore, James Street CBS, and Loreto College in Crumlin.
Some of the projects selected this year include a discussion based around the political systems and their underlying philosophies, promoting Irish as a living language, a political poem entitled Trump Poem, and an ice cream art project.
Other students also received awards for their excellent attendance, respectfulness toward fellow students, showing diligence and perseverance at school, and active engagement with their fellow communities through voluntary work.
Trinity Access Programme’s school outreach liaison, Michelle O’Kelly said about the ceremony:“TAP welcomed over 90 Junior Cycle Second Level students to Trinity to recognise and celebrate their academic achievements. This is a very special event for both TAP and the school communities we are linked with, as we take time to recognise the outstanding work of students in our schools. This year is especially significant as we mark the 25th anniversary of the TAP Educational Achievement Awards.”
Several students were also awarded the Salters Sterling Gold Medal for their great sense of civic-mindedness and purposefulness in their classrooms, schools, and communities.
The ceremony was opened by the Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Emily Logan and Trinity's Senior Lecturer Dr Gillian Martin.
