Trinity awards for Westmeath students

Ten students from Westmeath were among a total of 626 first-year students from Ireland and overseas who received Entrance Exhibition Awards for the 2023/4 academic year from Trinity College Dublin.

The awards go to students accepted into the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school, above a minimum of 500 CAO points (or equivalent).

Many former awardees have gone on to make a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, and political life of Ireland and beyond; they include Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

The students come from 445 different schools and from all 32 counties, as well as 28 countries overseas. The Westmeath awardees were: Conor McCarthy, Coláiste Mhuire; Caoimhe O’Reilly, Loreto College; Elleanna Zumerchik, Wilson’s Hospital School; Jasmine Si Man Chen, Castlepollard Community College; Nina McKinney, St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge; Conor Garvey, St Finian’s College; Oisin McGauran, Coláiste Mhuire; Luke Whitney, Moate Community School; Mary Doyle, Our Lady’s Bower; and Aisling McNamara, Athlone Community College.

The awards were delivered at three ceremonies at Trinity, to which the students and their school principals were invited. Provost of Trinity Dr Linda Doyle said: “The Entrance Exhibition Awards are our way of recognising these fantastic students and acknowledging the huge effort they put into their Leaving Certificate exams. I am really honoured that they have chosen Trinity College Dublin for this next step of their education.

“This year’s award recipients are now in the first years of their studies and I hope they are finding their studies enjoyable and rewarding, and enjoying the huge variety of clubs and societies in Trinity.

“Our Entrance Exhibition Awards programme includes a special event for school principals, and I want to acknowledge the work of principals, teachers and school staff who are so dedicated in making sure that students achieve their full potential.”

Students who achieve the highest points among Trinity entrants from their secondary school with at least 500 points in the Leaving Certificate (or its equivalent EU/EEA second-level final examinations) are eligible for an Entrance Exhibition Award. This includes bonus points for Mathematics. When more than one student from a school gets the same high points, all receive an award.

The Entrance Exhibition Awards were awarded to 408 students from Leinster (257 from Dublin), 84 from Munster, 53 from Connacht and 44 from Ulster. Each received a certificate and a €150 book token.