Thursday 22nd March, Dublin: Patrick Lynch was announced as the winner of the 2012 Trinity Business Alumni/Bank of Ireland Business Student of the Year for his outstanding contribution to college society life, community engagement and entrepreneurial activities, at reception at the House of Lords, in Bank of Ireland College Green.
The competition, open to 4th year business students in Trinity College, is coordinated by Trinity Business Alumni (TBA) in association with the Business School in Trinity College which shortlists finalists from nominations received by staff and students of the College. The Bank of Ireland sponsors and supports the event and has been associated with the competition for the last fifteen years. This year there were six finalists for the Business Student of the Year Award. These finalists were Conor Campbell, Laura Demery, Sophie Higgs, Colum Horan, Patrick Lynch and Elena Sugrue.
Richie Boucher, CEO of Bank of Ireland Group, outlined that Bank of Ireland was delighted to be involved with the TBA Business Student of the Year Award and that he enjoys celebrating the achievements of such outstanding students. Richie outlined that the “Bank has supported the Award for 17 years and is proud to be connected with Trinity College, the Business School and the Trinity Business Alumni”. He wished the students well with their future endeavours.
Robert Smyth of the Trinity Business Alumni congratulated each of the finalists and applauded their leadership qualities. Robert provided an insightful account of each finalist’s interview with a brief biography. Robert outlined that “Each of the candidates impressed and wowed us in their own right- we met six leaders last Wednesday and I am delighted for each of them in their achievement”. He added that the TBA is looking forward to welcoming each of the finalists as members following their graduation.
Announcing the winner, President of the Trinity Business Alumni, Alan Foy commented:
Each finalist has demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial leadership qualities and achievements by balancing academic and extra curricular activities during their time in Trinity. There is no doubt that we will see these students leading our commercial and not-for-profit organisations in the years to come. With this talent, we should have confidence in Ireland’s future.
Alan encouraged the finalists to have faith in their abilities and to pursue their major career objectives with persistence and confidence.
The Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast speaking at the reception congratulated Patrick and the other finalists on their achievements and highlighted the importance of becoming involved in student and community life.
I know that these students being honoured today have a broad range of interests, including music, sport, art, travel, languages, volunteering, and politics. They embody, in their range of extracurricular achievements, Trinity’s values of interdisciplinarity, deep learning, and independent, critical thinking. The Provost also recognised how Trinity alumni remain an integral and an important part of College. He thanked the TBA and Bank of Ireland for organising the awards and recognising the contribution of business students in such a fitting way.
