Offaly school wins top prize at inaugural AIB Future Sparks Awards
Coláiste Naomh Cormac scooped the top prize at the inaugural AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards in Croke Park, Dublin recently.
The awards ceremony took place in Croke Park on Wednesday, May 1, celebrating schools that give back to the community. Schools across Ireland showcased their amazing work to contribute to the betterment of their communities at the Gala Awards.
The Kilcormac school won the award for the Large Group Social category. Their project, 'Croí na Comharsanachta' strives to be the 'Heart of the Neighbourhood,' fostering community unity through various initiatives. From educational programmes to cultural events, they emphasise collaboration, diversity, and inclusion, making a meaningful impact on residents of all ages.
Head of Retail Distribution AIB Mid East at AIB, Ann Marie Freyne, said: “We are delighted to celebrate the outstanding contributions made by schools across Ireland through the AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards. These awards enable students to leverage the skills they have acquired to make a positive impact in the community all the while fostering continuous learning and skill development.”
The AIB Future Sparks School Impact Awards centre on three key pillars of activity: Environmental, Social, and Financial. These pillars encompass a wide range of activities that contribute to the betterment of communities, including volunteering, fundraising, awareness campaigns, mentoring, peer education, skills-sharing, and environmental conservation.
The AIB Future Sparks Programme is a skills-based interdisciplinary programme for post primary schools. Underpinned by rich education resources, this programme joins the dots for young people and their teachers as they navigate major transitions and key life moments by providing rich educational resources across multiple subject areas, such as Guidance Related Learning, Wellbeing, Business, Economics, Accounting, TY, Financial Education, and Home Economics.
For 2024, the programme received a staggering 123 submissions from a whopping 103 schools, from the full spectrum of post primary schools spanning 22 counties.
More information on the AIB Future Sparks Programme can be found here