BICS National Society Awards
Wednesday 19 April

DCU representatives at the BICS Awards

The BICS (Board of Irish College Societies) National Awards, was hosted by Cork Institute of Technology on April 13th in the Rochestown Park Hotel. DCU were presented with Best Improved Society for the DCU Saint Vincent de Paul Society and Best Society Event for DCU Fashion Show 2006 organised by the DCU Style Society.

The gala evening celebrated the enormous contribution societies and their members make to the social, cultural and humanitarian life of their respective campuses. Societies offer their members the opportunity to acquire very valuable life skills, which complement and enhance their academic programmes and produce well rounded graduates ready to make significant contributions to the wider community.

Best Society in a large College went to the Juggling Society, NUI Galway, Best Society in a small college went to CIT International Students’ Society, Best New Society went to NUI Galway Business Society, Best Society individual went to Donna Cummins, NUI Galway, Best Society Fresher went to Breege Clarke NUI Maynooth. Best Poster went to DIT Artichoke Society and Best Website went to DIT LGBT Society for www.ditlgbt.com

During his opening speech Mr. Cox praised the members of third level societies and expressed the opinion that everyone present was a winner by virtue of engagement and that societies offered their members the opportunity to turn the knowledge they have internalsied into good for their communities. He warmly welcomed BICS and said how proud Cork was to host the prestigious event. He went on to encourage the students present, whom he described as young Europeans, to avoid cynicisms in relation to what the EU has achieved and take pride in the fact that it is now the largest donors of non military assistance and encouraged those present to become engaged in an Erasmus of solidarity to use their gift of education for the greater good. Europeans should take pride in the fact that its enlargement promotes the re emerging democracies and gives a focus for transformation. It is the first time in history that the subcontinent is united and driven by the free will of free and sovereign governments. His speech was met by a resounding standing ovation.

BICS is a national organisation, constituted in 1995, dedicated to providing a national forum for the societies in Ireland's Universities, Colleges and Institutes of Education. The Board is responsible for the promotion of interest in the activities of Irish college societies and of contact and co-operation between them. Website www.bics.ie.