An outstanding student, Owen from Wilton, Cork has the
distinction of becoming the first ever mature student to achieve the status of
Graduate of the Year. Owen
graduated with a first-class honours degree in Commerce in September 2009. He entered UCC in September 2005 having retired a year
earlier through ill health as a Locomotive Driver with Irish Rail. During
his undergraduate years at UCC studying for the Bachelor of Commerce Degree, Owen involved himself in
extra curricular activities such as The Mature Student Society including taking
a leading role in organising the first ever Mature Student Society's
Inter-Varsity Forum, Supporting the College Rugby Team and Peer Mentoring. He also sat on the Board of Management
of the Mardyke Arena. Owen is
still a member of the Mature Student Quiz Team that participates in a weekly
table quiz league held in the Abbey Tavern every Wednesday night. Owen is a
member of the Munster Branch of the IRFU and has not ruled out continuing his
studies in the future.
The Graduate of the Year
Award is given annually to the most distinguished student of the year. In making this award, both academic
distinctions and the part played in the public life of the University are taken
into consideration.
Presenting the awards, UCC President, Dr Michael
Murphy extended his congratulations to the prizewinners for their hard work,
dedication to their studies and their excellence in academic scholarship. He paid tribute in particular to Owen
Dinneen on becoming the first ever mature student to be awarded ‘Graduate of
the Year’. He also praised the
work of the Access Service at UCC and pointed out that according to the Higher
Education Authority (HEA) “UCC has the highest combined number of full-time
mature students, students with a disability and students from targeted
socio-economically backgrounds amongst the third level institutions in the
country”.
Dr Murphy also offered his congratulations to the
parents of the prizewinners for the support they have provided and continue to
provide. In his speech, he
referred to the education experience at UCC and said: “Our ambition here in UCC
is that our students and graduates will be our best ambassadors in society".
Picture: 2009 Graduate of the Year, Owen Dinneen, BComm
1333MMcS
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