Junior Cert Business Awards 2012

Special Award Ceremony in Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Business Studies (Higher) Junior Certificate 2011 Athlone Institute of Technology 7 March 2012

Special Award Ceremony in Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Business Studies (Higher) Junior Certificate 2011 Order of Ceremony

Master of Ceremomies: Dr Harman Murtagh Visiting Fellow, AIT Welcome by Eoin Langan Head of Business School Address by Anthony Cunningham Manager, Galway senior hurling and Garrycastle football teams Presentation of parchments to students Address by Prof. Ciarán Ó Catháin President, AIT Address by Jennie Harrington Business Studies Teachers’ Association of Ireland

Supported by Athlone Credit Union

Welcome from the President

You are very welcome to AIT for the fifth annual special awards ceremony in recognition of those students who obtained an A in Business Studies (Higher) in the Junior Certificate examination 2011.

In our role as the only third level institution in the Midlands region, we are conscious of the importance of providing people with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to fulfil their ambitions.

This is particularly true in business, where successive generations of students and graduates have made their mark on the national and international stage. Over the four decades-plus of AIT’s existence, they are a continual reminder as to the importance of what we do.

Obtaining top marks in any field is worthy of praise and this is particularly true in academic endeavour. We are constantly inundated with messages about the necessity of thinking smarter, of being innovative, of being a knowledge society.

These ambitions will only be realised by hard work and dedication.

The students who we publicly recognise here this evening are laying an excellent foundation towards meeting these national objectives. In this success, I have no doubt that they have been aided greatly by parents, guardians, siblings and teachers who also deserve our praise and recognition.

Once again, I wish to extend our congratulations to all concerned and trust you have an enjoyable and memorable evening.

Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin President

Welcome from the Head of Business School

On behalf of the Business School at AIT, we are delighted to welcome all our guests to this special ceremony.

financial sponsorship for this event.

The occasion is enriched through the involvement of other distinguished guests; Anthony Cunningham, manager of both the Galway senior hurling and Garrycastle football teams and Jennie Harrington, representing the Business Studies Teachers’ Association of Ireland.

In congratulating you, the award recipients, the School also wishes to acknowledge the part played in your success by parents and guardians, other family members and the subject teachers who guided your learning and helped to motivate you towards the achievement which is being honoured this evening. May the result which you have gained in the Junior Certificate examination inspire you to continue to do your best and to fulfil your undoubted potential in the years ahead.

In thanking everyone for attending this ceremony, we wish to extend our gratitude to the principals of the participating schools and the members of their teaching staff. Your support is greatly welcomed. Appreciation and recognition is also due to Mick Dillon, CEO, Athlone Credit Union who has kindly provided

The Business School at AIT offers a range of programmes across the national framework of qualifications from higher certificates through to honours degrees at undergrdauate level, as well as a range of master’s degrees. Our experienced staff will be pleased to assist and answer questions when you are researching your third-level options. We are very proud of the thousands of graduates from this School who have built their futures in Ireland and across the world on the foundations laid within the Institute.

In conclusion, we again congratulate you, the recipients of our awards, and wish you continued success on the journey of life-long learning.

Eoin Langan Head of Business School

Listing of Students

Conor Barrett Mairéad Barrett Ronan Bellew Jonathan Bourke Emily Brady Dale Breheny Dominika Brodzisz Coman Browne Andrea Burke Kate Burke Louise Burke Patrick Burke Tom Butler Conor Byrne Orla Callanan Dylan Carlos Rose Casey Claire Cleary Shane Clerkin Calum Coffey Marie Compton Fiona Conneely Ciaran Connolly Liam Connolly Fiona Coyle Ruth Coyle Simone Craven Sarah Ann Curran Ronan Daly

Ciara Deering Mary Diffley Jason Doran Colin Dowd Hilary Dunne Melinda Earls Michelle Fahy Eoin Fallon Josephine Fanning Conor Farrell Niamh Farrell Shauna Farrell Aislinn Finnegan Louise Finneran Kevin Fitzpatrick Lisa Fitzpatrick Deirdre Flaherty Olivia Flanagan Stephen Flynn Daragh Fogarty James Fox Sean Gallagher Sorcha Galvin Cora Gannon Sean Gannon Siobhan Gardiner Tara Garman Niamh Geoghegan Katie Giblin

Claire Glynn Aoibhín Golden Brian Gordon Laoise Gordon Sarah Gormally Darren Gray Isabel Gray Cormac Guthrie Katie Halpin Edel Hannon Conor Hayden Killian Healy Aoife Hehir Jessica Heneghan Oisín Hession Nessa Hughes Cathal Hurley Jennifer Hynes Sophie Jacob Oisín Judge Caroline Kealey Eimear Kelly Grace Kelly Jennifer Kelly Rachel Kelly Claire Kenny Danielle Kenny Jonathan Keogh Ryan Kiernan

Katie Killeen Ellen Kinsella Amy Kirwan Rebecca Lalor Patrick Lambert Emma Lawler Jack Lee Conor Lennon Megan Lennon Aoife Loftus Daniel Loughrey Rebecca Lumley Maria Lundon Bronwyn Lyons Leanne Madden Rebecca Mahoney Eamonn Mannion Kate McCabe Sally McConkey Louise McCormack Laura McCullagh Niamh McDonald Tadhg McGahern Jack McGovern Orlaith McGrath Ruairi McKenna-Carroll

Caitlin McMahon Claire Meehan Jonathan Mooney Soracha Moran Melissa Moyles Muireann Mulcahy Eabha Mullins Dervla Murphy Oisín Murphy David Neary Kevin Neary Cian Nolan Evan O’Beirne Brian O’Boyle Diarmuid O’Brien Orlagh O’Brien Diarmuid O’Carroll Laura O’Connor Orla O’Connor Shane O’Malley Shauna O’Neill Eimear Marie O’Reilly Tadhg O’Rourke Amy O’Shea Saffron O’Sullivan Mei Ou

Niall Quinn Eileen Reidy Emma Louise Reilly Alan Rigney Jessica Rogers Chloe Rooney Anthony Rowan Máirín Ryan Edel Sexton Chloe Sheehy Cailín Sheridan Nisheline Shibu Julia Solovyov Eoin Sorohan Adam Spain Elis Teehan Mark Thornton-Connolly Fionán Tierney Kieran Wadd Ciara Walsh Leanne Walsh Mary Walsh Therese Walshe Michelle Watts Shannon Yelbsai Laura Young

Listing of Schools

Abbey Community College, Boyle Árdscoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe Athlone Community College Bailieborough Community School Banagher College Castlerea Community School CBS Roscommon Cnoc Mhuire, Granard Coláiste Mhuire, Ballygar Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar Coláiste Naomh Cormac, Kilcormac Convent of Mercy, Roscommon Dunmore Community School, Galway Garbally College, Ballinasloe Glenamaddy Community School Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew Lanesboro Community College Loreto College, Cavan Loreto College, Mullingar Marist College, Athlone Meán Scoil Mhuire, Longford Mercy College, Woodford, Loughrea

Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan Moate Community School Moyne Community School Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone Presentation College, Athenry Royal School, Cavan Sacred Heart School, Tullamore Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown St Aidan’s Comprehensive, Cavan St Brendan’s Community School, Birr St Brigid’s Mercy Convent, Tuam St Joseph’s College, Summerhill St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge St Killian’s Vocational School, Ballinasloe St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen St Patrick’s College, Cavan Tullamore College Vocational School, Athenry Wilson’s Hospital, Mullingar

Snapshots of AIT Business Graduates

A business qualification from AIT is a passport to a rewarding future. Here are some snapshots of AIT business graduates who are making their mark in Ireland and around the world.

rrell Jr Brendan P. Fa l is Brendan Farrel Longford-born al ci an e global fin CEO of XSP, th , he 11 20 are firm. In Irish services softw 0 10 p ne of the to ed was named o ct le se er s and was of American lead ur ne re g entrep un Yo & t ns Er as an t. the year finalis Maria Gunning Maria Gunning graduated from AIT with an honours degre e in accounting in 2007. Sh e subsequently completed her ACCA exams within two years and is now Client Ser vice Senior in the Athlone office of Russell Brennan Keane.

Alan Reynolds

ster Michael Brew

hael Longford, Mic Originally from r at o ct anaging Dire Brewster is M ng vi New York, ha Credit Suisse, from Lehman joined the firm he 06 and 2008, Brother s. In 20 Irish 50 of the Top was voted one .

Wall Street Americans on

Alan Reynolds is a graduate in accounting and finance from A IT. Having wor ked for a while with an asset managem ent company in South Africa, he is curr ently a manager in the financial an d regulatory te am at JP Morgan, Dub lin.

Jackie Gorman of Atlantic Jackie Gorman is CEO s relationships Corridor, which build North America. between Ireland and m AIT, A business graduate fro le experience Jackie has considerab lopment in working in local deve mbia.

Ireland and in The Ga

Accountancy Firms Compete for Students

Accountancy firms such as RBK, RMS FGS, KPMG, Deloitte, PWC and Ernst & Young are competing to recruit AIT final year accountancy students.

These students, who are still in the final year of the BA (Hons) in Accounting or the MA in Accounting, are in the enviable position of having to choose between three or four offers for trainee accountant positions.

AIT accounting student, Maureen Kinnarney (third from right), was the top student in Ireland in the Accounting Technicians of Ireland 2011 national examinations. She is pictured here with Luke Fannon AIT, Peter Melinn Head of Dept. of Accounting & Business Computing AIT, Paula McManus AIT, Naomi McGrath Accounting Technicians Ireland and Eoin Langan, Head of Business School AIT.

Recruitment by the accountancy firms has increased significantly this year as the demand for professional services offered by these firms increases to near Celtic Tiger levels. Students are seeking the advice of the careers office and the Business School academic staff as to which offer to choose.

In many cases, employers will also pay for new recruits to undertake a Master’s in accounting, including living expenses. This shows that despite the economic downturn choosing to study accounting at third level is an excellent long-term career choice.

AIT has one of the best records of any Irish third level institution for accountancy education, and its students have consistently scored amongst the highest marks in professional body exams. BA (Hons) in Accounting graduates obtain up to nine exemptions.

There is no requirement to have studied accountancy for the Leaving Certificate to undertake a degree in accounting at AIT.

NB CAO course choices AL650

Higher Cert in Business

AL651

Higher Cert in Business w/ Off ice Management

AL651

Higher Cert in Business w/ Music & Instrument Technology

AL652

Higher Cert in Business w/ Equine Studies

AL750

BSc in Business Computing

AL850

Bachelor of Business (Hons)

AL851

BBus and Law (Hons)

AL852

BA (Hons) in Accounting

AL853

BA (Hons) in Accounting & Law

Make the right decision choose Business at AIT

Athlone Institute of Technology Dublin Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath Visit us online at www.ait.ie/business Tel 090 646 8290

AIT: Educating for Career Success