Awards Day at Enniscorthy Community College 2023:
Thursday 25th of May saw Enniscorthy Community College host its annual Awards Day, Gradam 2023. In the school’s state of the art Gym Hall, in the presence of Chief Executive of Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB), Kevin Lewis, Deputy Paul Kehoe, TD, Chairperson of the School’s Board of Management John O’Connor, Chairperson of WWETB Board Councillor Barbara Ann Murphy and proud parents and guardians. Special guest for the ceremony was Michelle O’Neill a former student who is now a very successful soccer assistant referee officiating at many high profile games. The event saw the entire school community pay tribute to near 100 students for their achievements across the realms of Sport, the Arts, Culture and Academia.
In his address Dr. Iain Wickham spoke about the core values that are very much to the fore in the school, they include: excellence in education, respect, equality, care and community. He also thanked Conor Dempsey for his meticulous planning of the event and Liam Sharkey who acted as MC. Kevin Lewis spoke of the pride, WWETB has for the school, its staff, students and their achievements over the past year. Michelle O’Neill outlined her journey since leaving school emphasising the importance of having dreams along with determination and resilience so that you can fulfil your ambitions.
The schedule for Gradam 2023 in the school was varied which reflects the varied character of school life across the different realms. A very important aspect of the ceremony was the Excellence in Class Awards, where the teachers of a class vote for a student who excels across the academic, cultural, and sporting life of the school, 20 such students were honoured with this award.
The eclectic character of sporting provision at ECC was recognised by Award for sporting prowess in Gaelic games, Badminton and Soccer across the Junior and Senior classes. Success in the area of Athletics was paid tribute to more comprehensively than ever this year, with county honours given worthy tribute.
The pastoral care of the student is at the heart of school life at ECC and during the awards young school leaders and mentors were honoured for their services in the Meitheal mentoring system. A new team of ten selected students for the coming academic year were announced to the assembled crowd.
The core ethos of the WWETB around 5 principles including excellence in education, care, respect, community and equality were celebrated with 5 new awards celebrating the efforts of students in these areas of pastoral care and provision.
The traditional type of Award celebrating academic achievement was the centre piece of the Awards ceremony with student receiving commemorative plaques and certificates in subjects as diverse as DCG, Engineering, the Physical and human sciences as well as the traditional core subjects of English and Mathematics. It is in these core subjects which ECC place a huge emphasis on, with a distinctive literacy and numeracy strategy. This year the Colleges Wood Technology Department designed and produced the commemorative awards in Beech wood under the tutelage of their teacher, Mr. David Lawton. From next year Awards will be presented perpetually and placed in state-of-the-art LED glass cabinets purchased by the Parents Association.
Special recognition was given to one Sixth Year student, Chloe Lambert for not missing one school day in her five years at ECC. This award marks the special significance the College places on the importance of attendance for teaching and learning and assisting with academic attainment.
The Student of the Year was awarded to Kamilia Sowinska, commenting Dr. Wickham said that Kamilia had a tremendous work ethic and a steely determination to work to the best of her ability. Kamilia was very active in school life through her involvement in the school orchestra and badminton and was highly thought of by staff and students.
List of Awards and Recipients:
Excellence in Class Awards:
Junior Cycle: Charlie Daly, Catalin Vilau, Chloe Buckley, Catherine Jobi, Blazej Sowinski, Scarlett Ryan, Adrian Florin Suciu, Zuzanna Grzegorak, Amy Finn, Kenan Treacy, Jack Redmond, Sarah Jane O’Toole, Darragh Jordan.
Senior Cycle: Chloe O’Sullivan Millar, Andrei Gabriel Mirea, Megan Hughes, Calum Barker, Cory Murnane.
Academic Awards:
Junior Cycle:
Creative Writer of the Year: Sofiia Bezruchenko
Library Assistant of the Year: Bartek Jurkiewicz
Music: Hannah Mc Inerney
Music Practical: Ric Jones
Art: Miacha Connolly
Science: Botond Simko
Maths: Gavin Sinnott
Home Economics: Jack Redmond
Materials Technology Wood: Anna Byrne
Technical Graphics: Gavin Sinnott
Business: Jack Redmond
English: Ric Jones
Geography: Jack Redmond
German: Hannah Mc Inerney
Irish: Keeley Tobin
Senior Cycle:
Maths: Jason Liu De Hui
Home Economics: Megan Hughes
Biology: Dragos Cornel Kurcsi
Music: Kelsey Martin Dunne
Business: Odhran Levingstone
Irish: Kamila Sowinska
English: Kamila SowinskaLeaving Certificate Geography: Salvatore Orefice
German: Megan Hughes
Vocational Programme: Kamila Sowinska
Construction: Emanuele Norcia
Engineering: Kamila Sowinska
Art Award: Kamila Sowinska
Chemistry: Salvatore Orefice
Academic Endeavour:
5LA Student of the Year Chloe Farrell
6LA Student of the Year Stephen Fortune,
Junior Boro Student of the Year Conor Cullen
Senior Boro Student of the Year Tom Roche
JCSP Most improved student Shania Donegan
JCSP Student of the Year Sarah Jane O’ Toole
Resilience Award: Shannon Harty
Sports Awards:
Boys Soccer: Under 15 Adam Southall, Under 17 Cody Doran and Ian O’Reilly and Under 19 Bryan Kearns and Thomas O’Brien Cashe.
Junior Hurler: Adam Kehoe, Senior Hurler: Ian O’Reilly
Junior Footballer: Charlie White, Senior Footballer: Thomas O’Brien Cashe
Senior Basketball: Josh Murphy, Junior Basketball: Evan Acheson, Scarlett Ryan.
Junior Badminton: Blajez Sowinski, Senior Badminton: Dragos Kurcsi
Meitheal Awards:
Kayla Murphy, Ciara Mc Grath. Teigan Wildes, Salvatore Orefice, Dragos Kursci, Ryan Campbell, Treasa Barrett, Blaithin Barrett
Green Schools Committee
Ryan Campbell, Miacha Connolly, Eva Luchian, Abbie Dobbs, Jack Redmond, Hannah Mc Inerney, Keanan Treacy, Cody Williams, Keshon Kelly, Marharyta (Margo) Dobel
Student Council:
Jude Dickson, Bradley T. Mashamba, Shannon Murphy, Megan Dagg, Andrew Kehoe, Jack Redmond, Ben Murphy, Shakira Waters, Nathan Henrique Silva, Hadi Ramadan, Megan Flynn Lawless, Blaithín Barrett and Salvatore Orefice.
Ethos Awards:
Community: Megan Dagg
Excellence in Education: Blazej Sowinski
Care: Ciaran Treacy
Respect: Sarah Jane O’Toole
Equality: Chloe Farrell
6th Year Special Attendance 2018-2023: Chloe Lambert
Student of the Year Award: Kamila Sowinska