Agricultural Science Post Graduation Celebration and Awards Ceremony
The annual University College Cork (UCC) / Teagasc Agricultural Science Post Graduation Celebration and Awards Ceremony took place on the evening of Friday, 6th December.
The event celebrated and paid tribute to the class of 2024, as well as recognising the outstanding academic achievement of a number of individual members of the class.
The overall event was sponsored by FBD Trust, while the awards were sponsored by key stakeholders from across the industry, including: FBD Trust; Cork Grassland Services; Munster Agricultural Society; Southern Milling; Irish Cattle Breeding Federation; MSD Animal Health Ireland; FDC; Irish Farmers Journal; AIB; and Teagasc.
Pictured in University College Cork at an awards ceremony for graduates of the Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree are Professor Frank Buckley, Head of Agricultural Science and academic director of the Agricultural Science degree programme at UCC, Teagasc Paddy O'Keeffe Award Winners Barry Stratford, Virginia, Co Cavan and Stephanie Stanley, Bandon, Co Cork and Professor Laurence Shalloo, Teagasc Head of Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme. Photo O'Gorman Photography.
Awards
Reflecting the breadth of opportunity within the Irish dairy industry as well as the varied strengths and interests of the students, 13 awards were presented on the evening.
At the event, Barry Stratford from Virginia, Co. Cavan was presented with the FBD Trust Overall Student of the Year Award.
Other recipients include:
- Barry Stratford, Virginia, Co. Cavan – Silver medal in the Cork Grassland Services Grassland Student of the Year award to best student across 3rd and 4th year ‘grassland science’ modules.
- Patrick O'Halloran, Ruan, Co. Clare – Silver medal in the Munster Agricultural Society Sustainable Agriculture Award to best student in 2nd year module ‘Sustainable Food Production’.
- Dara Heffernan, Cahir, Co. Tipperary – Silver medal in the FBD Trust Soil Science Award to best student in 3rd year module ‘Soil Science and Soil/Land Management’
- Matt Walsh, Blarney, Co. Cork – Silver medal in the Southern Milling Award to best student in 4th year module Animal Nutrition II.
- Barry Stratford, Virginia, Co. Cavan – Recipient of the MSD ‘Bovilis #ProtectTheFuture Award to best student in 4th year module ‘Bovine Health, Behaviour and Welfare’.
- Stephanie Stanely, Bandon, Co. Cork and Valerie Guiney, Listowel, Co. Kerry – Silver medal recipients of the AIB Best Work Placement Award.
- Tadhg Griffin, Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry – Silver medal in the ICBF Brian Wickham Award.
- Barry Stratford, Virginia, Co. Cavan – Silver medal in the Irish Farmers Journal Award.
- Michael Walsh, Buttevant, Co. Cork – Silver medal in the FDC Jack Murphy Award.
- Stephanie Stanley, Bandon, Co. Cork and Barry Stratford, Virginia, Co. Cavan – Silver medal recipients of the Teagasc Paddy O’Keeffe Award
- Barry Stratford, Virginia, Co. Cavan – Gold medal recipient of the FBD Trust Best Overall Student Award.
Congratulating the awardees and their families at the awards ceremony, Head of Agricultural Science and Academic Director of the Agricultural Science Degree Programme at UCC, Professor Frank Buckley said: “The Class of 2024 are a credit to themselves, UCC and to their families. They were hardworking, dedicated and capable students across the four years of their degree course. All of the students, not just the awardees here tonight, are winners and high achievers.
“It has been a pleasure to watch you develop, and now particularly pleasing to see so many of you pursuing your passion having secured what for many of you are already important and high-performance roles right across industry. We wish you well in your careers.”
Professor Laurence Shalloo, Head of Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme at Teagasc, said: ‘The partnership with Agricultural Science at UCC is very important to Teagasc. The dairy industry requires well educated students who can apply their knowledge and skills to address the economic, environmental and social challenges that our industry faces now and into the future.”