Student Leader of the Year

This award will go to the nominee who has demonstrated the most impressive leadership in the student community during the academic year 2017/2018. Through their work the successful nominee will have campaigned to protect and enhance the student experience for their peers and, in doing so, will have become a role model within the college community. Application Form

Part-Time Officer of the Year

Students’ Unions, and particularly sabbatical officers, rely hugely on the work done by part-time SU officers. These officers frequently sit on the Students’ Union Executive, where one exists, and give up their time to assist in the development and implementation of policies and campaigns. This award will go to the part-time officer who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that 2017/2018 was a successful year for their SU. Application Form

International Student of the Year

This award will be presented to an international student who has been an integral part of student life throughout the academic year 2017/2018. International students often face barriers to integration in Ireland, not least because they are far from the comforts of home and family, but play important and valued roles across activity on and off campus. The recipient of the award will have integrated into campus life and stands out as a role model for students, having demonstrated the ability to be an ambassador for student life in Ireland.

Application Form

Equality Campaign of the Year

Equality has long been at the forefront of the work of the student movement, with USI and it’s membership leading and significantly contributing to social justice for decades. This award will recognise the campaign or ongoing advocacy ​that has highlighted injustice and advanced the cause of equality on campus, in the public eye and/or wider community. Application Form

Welfare Campaign of the Year

Protecting students is one of the core missions of USI and local Students’ Unions. This award will go to the campaign which has done the most to promote or protect the welfare of students in Ireland. Budget and other limitations will be taken into consideration and should be clearly outlined on the nomination submission form. An individual, groups of individuals, organisations, clubs, societies and Students’ Unions may be nominated for this award. Application Form

Education Campaign of the Year

At the heart of the USI constitution is the pledge to protect and promote education. This award will recognise the campaign which sought to promote these values on campus and which brought about tangible benefits to the student body. Campaigns run by Students’ Unions, student societies and individual students are all eligible for consideration.. Budget and other limitations will be taken into consideration and should be clearly outlined on the nomination submission form. Application Form

Outstanding Mental Health Activism

Mental health forms a large part of the work of the student movement. This award will go to the campaign, society, or individual activist which has done the most to promote or protect the mental health of students in Ireland in 2017/2018. Budget and other limitations will be taken into consideration and should be clearly outlined on the nomination submission form. An individual, groups of individuals, organisations, societies and Students’ Unions may be nominated for this award. Application Form

Mature Student of the Year

Mature Student of the Year

This award is dedicated to recognising the achievements of mature students in higher level education. Mature students face a plethora of challenges when returning to education and overcoming these challenges requires resilience and commitment. This award will go to a mature student who has been an active participant in student life. Application Form

Class Representative of the Year

The recipient of this award will be the elected class representative who most effectively represents their fellow classmates inside the structures of the college and/or the Students’ Union. Good class representatives should seek to engage their classmates with the Students’ Union and its activities as well as represent and promote a broad range of interests.

Application Form

Feachtas Gaeilge na Bliana

Tuigeann Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn tábhacht na Gaeilge i saol na mac léinn, agus mar sin, bronnfar an gradam seo ar eagraithe an fheachtais ab fhearr a reáchtáladh le linn na bliana maidir leis an teanga. Is féidir le Comhaltais/Aontais na Mac Léinn, Cumainn, nó daoine aonair dul isteach san iomaíocht don ghradam seo.

The Union of Students in Ireland understands the importance of Irish in student life, and as a result, this award will be bestowed upon the organisers of the best campaign that was organised during the year regarding the language. Student Unions, Societies, or individuals can put themselves forward for this award.

Application Form

Activist of the Year

This award will be presented to a student who has shown leadership in campaigning and advocating on a student issue or issues within their campus or wider community. It recognises the commitment of a student to an issue that matters to them or their peers, not limited to, but could include: advancing student rights, raising the student voice on or off campus, equality and social justice, encouraging more student involvement in campaigns or initiatives, or advancing and defending the quality of education.

Application Form

Environmental Activism of the Year

This award recognises the contribution of an individual, group of individuals, society, or Students’ Union to advancing the cause of environmentalism and sustainability. Increasingly important, both on and off campus, the student movement is now an integral part of the wider movement to ensuring a more sustainable planet. Initiatives, campaigns, and lobby efforts are ongoing across the country, and this award recognises that growing body of student activism.

Application Form

Entrepreneur of the Year

The successful nominee will have initiated or developed innovative ideas benefiting themselves, a group of students, their college or the wider community. They will have demonstrated originality of thought, creativity and the requisite motivation to see a project through to its conclusion. Their work will be seen as an example of the ingenuity and dynamism that young people in Ireland possess. Application Form

Student Media Outlet of the Year

The quality of content and the reach that student media has on and off campuses is an integral part to creating a sense of student life and community. This award recognises the student media outlet or platform that demonstrates high commitment to editorial, journalistic, or broadcast standards. It could go to an individual, group of individuals, organisation, society, or Students’ Union. It could include a publication, journal, radio station, blog, podcast, or any other form of media. The budget and other limitations of any outlet will be taken into consideration and should be clearly outlined on the entry form. Application Form

Outstanding Contribution to Student Media

Student media has a long and proud history in Ireland and in recent years it has become more important and prominent than ever. This award will go to an individual who has demonstrated a clear commitment to developing student media as a means to engaging the student population, whether that is as a journalist or broadcaster, or in a support capacity to a media outlet. The award recognises that there is a wide variety of ways in which an individual student can contribute to the success of student media. Application Form

Outstanding Contribution to Student Life

This award will celebrate the work of a group or organisation and their lasting and outstanding contribution to student life in Ireland in 2017/2018. The award recognises clubs, societies, or other student-led organisations which have a positive impact on broader student life. An “outstanding” contributor to student life is a recognised group or organisation whose impact is felt beyond its membership and throughout the whole college community, or to the student experience in Ireland.

Application Form

Charity Champions of the Year

This award recognises charitable efforts organised by a USI member organisation, student, society, or other group. Budget and other limitations will be taken into consideration and should be clearly outlined on the nomination submission form. The award recognises a year-round commitment to fundraising, volunteerism, outreach etc. An individual, groups of individuals, organisations, societies and Students’ Unions may be nominated for this award.

Application Form

Environmental Activism of the Year

This award recognises the contribution of an individual, group of individuals, society, or Students’ Union to advancing the cause of environmentalism and sustainability. Increasingly important, both on and off campus, the student movement is now an integral part of the wider movement to ensuring a more sustainable planet. Initiatives, campaigns, and lobby efforts are ongoing across the country, and this award recognises that growing body of student activism.