News and Views
David Giles recognised with inaugural CoBL award
David Giles, third-year Law and Business student, is the inaugural recipient of the College of Business and Law’s “Head of College Exceptional Achievement Award”
This award acknowledges a student who has made an extraordinary impact during their time in the College. Nominated by the Deans of both Business and Law, the award recognises a person who has made a truly unique contribution to student life during their time at University College Cork (UCC).
David was presented with the award in Devere Hall on 25th April at the College’s annual Scholarships and Prizes Award Ceremony, hosted by the Head of College Professor Ursula Kilkelly. He was commended for tireless dedication and commitment to the student experience, his exceptional work capacity, his contagious enthusiasm, and for “displaying of all the graduate attributes that the College seeks to nurture in its students and supporting through his work the inculcation of these in the Cork University Business School (CUBS) community”
David, who hails from Newcestown in County Cork, was a featured speaker at the Ceremony. He described to the audience some of his initiatives, which he hoped would “stand to testify that when student ideas are valued, facilitated, and resourced, they can go on to have a real and sustained impact. It is only when the student voice is given a listened to seat at the table that the direction of the schools and colleges can reflect the needs of students in an ever-changing world”
As elected College Representative to the Student’s Union for the 2020/2021 academic term, David founded the first-ever CUBS week, by working with the class representative network, to bring together staff and seven CUBS societies to create a week of online events to combat the risk of isolation and disengagement by students during the challenging Covid period.
He coordinated the development of a ‘Welcome to CUBS’ video, for students by students, which received national attention when published in the Irish Times.
David also began a campaign at UCC, beginning with business and law students, and moving outward across the University, to train students in suicide prevention and intervention techniques. Over 60O UCC students have undertaken training, thereby developing potentially life-saving skills. David is working on bringing this effort to a national level.
He currently serves as Chairperson of the Free Legal Advice Centre on campus.
David acknowledged the support of College staff, in particular, Professor Kilkelly; Professor Thia Hennessey, CUBS Dean; Professor Mark Poustie, Law School Dean; Professor Mary McCarthy of CUBS, Professor Conor O’Mahony of the Law School, Ms Sinead Hackett of CUBS, and Ms Kate Liffey-Faherty of the Law School. He was appreciative of the “welcoming and supportive” College environment, where ambition is instilled and encouraged in students, and where he has found “great opportunity for growth”
In the Devere Hall audience were David’s parents, Mary and Lane, whom he thanked, noting they “have given me a great upbringing and continue to exercise patience and support me in my sometimes mad endeavours”
Congratulations David!