Two Clare graduates celebrate after receiving top awards

TWO GRADUATES from County Clare had double cause for celebration after achieving ‘top of their class’ status at the annual Hibernia College conferring ceremony which was held at Dublin’s Convention Centre.

In addition to receiving her Masters qualification, Ciara Dillon – a Primary Education graduate and teacher at Bridgetown National School – was honoured with the INTO Vere Foster Medal – awarded by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) for ‘Outstanding Performance in School Placement’.

Along with receiving her Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education, Crusheen graduate, Aislinn Dillon (pictured centre, below) was honoured with the overall Student of the Year Award – presented by the College to the student in each cohort with the highest grade across their programme.

Congratulating Ciara and other teaching graduates, Dr Mary Kelly, academic dean at Hibernia College, said all teachers in attendance “hold the key to transformative change in the world by shaping the minds and futures of the next generation, at a time when our country is so short of teachers”.

Praising Aislinn and other graduates in Inclusive and Special Education she added: “your work not only impacts the lives of individuals with diverse abilities but also contributes to building a society that values and embraces the unique strengths of every individual.”

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This year, the Clare graduates were amongst 1,190 students from all 26 counties to qualify in Primary and Post-Primary teaching, Inclusive and Special Education and Data Analytics at the ceremony which saw the largest ever number of teachers graduate in Ireland.