The Dell Access Achievement Awards for Secondary Schools take place at the Helix

Paul Delaney, Dell Ireland, presenting a student with his Dell Access Achievement Award

Almost 400 secondary school students received their Dell Access Achievement Awards and a special prize of a Dell “Santa Claus” USB memory stick at the prestigious Dell Access Achievement Awards ceremony on December 11th, in the Helix.

In front of a capacity crowd of over 1,200 fellow pupils, teachers and family members, the secondary school students from some 23 schools on Dublin’s Northside appeared for their 10 seconds of fame each on the same stage where “You’re a Star” is filmed.

The Access Achievement Awards are the biggest of their kind in Ireland and remain so thanks to the generous support this year of Dell Ireland. “We are delighted to support DCU and the Access Achievement Awards as they encourage young people to pursue the opportunities offered by third level education. Dell is committed to making technology more affordable and readily available to people and institutions everywhere so that they can take advantage of the tremendous economic and social benefits it offers.” said Paul Delaney, Head of Public Sector, Dell Ireland.

The Achievement Awards were introduced over 10 years ago by DCU’s Access Service to recognise, reward and encourage excellence in both the academic and extra mural aspects of a students school life. They are an important strand of the DCU Access Schools Programme, which fosters positive attitudes to education and encourages young people to remain at school and consider third level education as a viable option for them.

Teachers nominated their students for a Dell Access Achievement Award from a range of categories including academic learning, sports, arts & culture and community spirit. This year IT Skills was added as a new category, applying to students who have demonstrated a marked improvement in the use of technology to further their learning and enhance their knowledge and abilities in IT. “We are delighted that Dell Ireland has agreed to support this important initiative, which helps to inspire hundreds of young people by making them aware of the opportunities open to them through a third level education”, said Ita Tobin, Head of the Access Service. “I would also like to thank our colleagues in the DCU Educational Trust for securing such a wonderful sponsor for these Awards.”

The Achievement Awards have a lasting impact on these young students. In fact, a significant number of students who come to DCU under the DCU Access Programme from these participating schools have been a recipient of an Access Achievement Award in the past. To help inspire and reinforce the message that hard work and supports like the Access service really do lead to success, some of the 82 students who have successfully graduated from DCU this year under the DCU Access Programme, also attended on stage for the Dell Access Achievement Awards.

The DCU Educational Trust is a registered charity, which raises private support for the on-going development of DCU. Gifts to the Educational Trust are tax efficient - Charity No: CHY 8960. Donations can be made online at www.dcu.ie/trust/gift.shtml.
All gifts to the Educational Trust are tax efficient. For more information on the Trust call Ph: 01 7005467.