One of the highlights of the year in AMLÉ is the annual student achievement awards. Students and student unions around the country to celebrate the changemakers, the campaigns and the unions making the biggest differences on campuses and for the student body.
This was the 12th annual Student Achievement Awards and shortlisted nominees gathered in the Sugar Club in Dublin for awards night. MC’d by comedian Bernard Casey, there were 25 awards to be handed out, and AMLÉ Mental Health Programme Manager was delighted to be asked to hand out two of them.
The first award was for Outstanding Mental Health Activism. This was awarded to Alex Candon, a class rep from DCU. In their work, Alex focused on student cohorts that are often missed, and had a process focused approach to ensure changes could be effective. They also ensured many of their actions were embedded structurally to ensure that their impact will continue long after they have graduated. To quote from the application: they elevated previously unheard concerns to feed directly into staff-student policy dialogue, and has made wellbeing a visibility, institutionalised and measurable priority, built to last and inspiring others to do the same.
The second award was for Welfare Campaign of the Year. This was awarded to Áine Hatzer, Welfare Officer with Donegal ATUSU, for her Alcohol Related Harm Week campaign. This was a well-considered campaign from almost every perspective. Choosing the timing, and the specific organisations involved was smart. Making the campaign cross campus and making the activities fun meant it was engaging. Some of the specific activities showed real out-of-the-box thinking, and checking in with local pubs to see if there had been an impact showed that this was well thought through from beginning to end. This campaign was also submitted for nomination more than once!
A huge congratulations to Alex, Áine, those shortlisted and all nominees. The SAAIs are a reminder of all the great work that goes on throughout the year, often quietly and behind the scenes, often with small budgets but always with big aims.
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