Fifty-four student ambassadors awarded digital badges for volunteering at ATU

In 2017, the Donegal campuses were the first university in Ireland to award students digital badges in recognition for their commitments to university life. This year, digital badges from the National Forum were awarded across ATU’s nine campuses. This collaborative event recognises and rewards ATU students for their voluntary contributions to university life. Students receiving awards at the awards contributed at least twenty-five hours voluntary time supporting on-campus events and activities across the academic year 2023/24.

Dr Orla Flynn, ATU President, commented, “Students are the heartbeat of our university. I am delighted to see fifty-four of our students receiving national recognition for their voluntary efforts. Our university thrives because of their success and commitment, and these events represent all that is positive at the university. I want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all the award winners. Many will graduate from ATU this year, and I wish our graduating ambassadors continued success in their future careers.”

ATU students who received a bronze digital badge award for 25 hours voluntary activities during the academic year were:

Emma Conaghan, Aoife Louise Gethings, Yevis Gallagher, Eimear McDermott, Melanie McGuirk, Shaima Manaa, Fatima Razaq, Livia Quicoli, Roisin O Hanrahan, Abdul Fatah, Teresa Panda, Christoph Brink, Timileyin Ogundare, Labib Ahmad, Meagan Ryle-Sheridan, Marlene Schiano, Cliona Smith, Aoife Coyle, Annie De Hora, Ellen Madden, Brenda Ruiz Perea and Samuel Bomba.

ATU students who received a silver digital badge award for 50 hours voluntary activities during the academic year were:

Ciara McLaughlin, Kyle Harvey, Anna McLoughlin, Eunice Ting Xuan Lee, Regina Barrera Vilchis, Gift Oladunjoye, Racheal Akinsola, Ashley Ju Yen Yeo and Alexandra Brozova.

ATU students who received a gold digital badge award for 70 hours voluntary activities during the academic year were:

Jerry Drumm, Manna Begum, Isabel Conaghan, Jobel Sabellano, Eric Chen, Nhat Long Van Pham, Jesus Quaye Saya, Ontiretse Ishmael, Meida Gauryte, Mary Wittmer, Lane Mooney, Loic Guillot, Erica Odeje, Abhipsa Routray, Ana-Narcisa Pintilie, Anoop Akampadath, Ekatrina Savustyan, Mohammed Sharieff Moosa, Shreya Randeep Raghuvanshi, Shreya Shantharama Shetty, Vaibhav Rai, Vinayak Harish Sharma and Yap Jun Hong.

The Student Ambassador Programme gives students the opportunity to embrace campus life and gain valuable skills by assisting in university events throughout the year. The digital badges are uploaded to students LinkedIn profiles, and these badges recognise students' contributions to the university.

Fiona Kelly, ATU Marketing Manager commented, “The introduction of the digital badge scheme in 2017 provided a formal process to recognise students' voluntary activities at the university. Over the

years, the ambassador programme has gone from strength to strength with the badges supporting graduate success. Volunteering at the university enhances students work experience which can be used to attract potential employers, we have seen the success of this in action, and I am thrilled to see the digital badges scheme with the National Forum extended to students across all nine ATU campuses.”

Photo caption: Students celebrate Student Ambassador Awards across ATU  

Shannon Duggan,

Marketing and Communications Officer. E: shannon.duggan@atu.ie

T: 074 91 86138