DkIT celebrates student engagement with Elevate and Ambassador Awards

The DkIT Elevate Awards recognise and celebrate these contributions and help students to recognise and evidence the skills they have developed through this engagement, elevating employability.

To receive this award, each student has completed over 45 hours of campus volunteering, built a skills-focused CV, developed their LinkedIn profile, and produced a video reflecting on a skill they developed through their voluntary work. With over 30 awardees this year, the initiative has grown rapidly since it began in 2020. This year’s cohort participated in a wide variety of activities including taking on roles such as Class Representatives or Sports and Societies officers, working on outreach programmes like Cell Explorers and Coder Dojo, volunteering at Open Days and many more. 

The ceremony also recognised the invaluable work of DkIT’s student ambassadors, over 130 students who share their energy and commitment to prospective and incoming students over induction days and throughout the year.

Addressing the attendees, Margaret Ward, who manages the student ambassadors said:

 The ambassadors give new and prospective students their first real experience of DkIT, and that first impression often shapes whether someone chooses to study here — and how at home they feel when they arrive. They may make their role look effortless, but it has a big impact and deserves recognition. They play a key role in showcasing the campus and offering a friendly, welcoming presence for incoming students.”

The awards showcased the strength of the DkIT community, with catering, caretaking and academic staff working together to create a memorable celebration for students. The event was made possible through the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, particularly the Student Learning and Development Centre, which coordinates the Induction and Student Ambassador Programme. 

Additional support came from Student Services, the Students’ Union, and the Careers and Employability Centre, who oversee the Elevate Award Programme. Attendees also heard from key staff involved in both initiatives, including Dr Gerry Gallagher and Margaret Ward (CELT), Anthony Murray (Careers and Employability), and Linda Murphy (Student Services).

Speaking at the awards, Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan, DkIT President commended all participating students: 

“The Elevate Framework for Student Engagement exists because we believe that what students do outside the lecture theatre matters. It matters for DkIT, it matters for their communities, and it matters for their careers. The Elevate Award doesn't just ask students to engage - it asks them to reflect on that engagement, identify the skills they've developed, and evidence them.

Our Student Ambassadors are chosen by their Convenors because they stand out. They are passionate, enthusiastic and spirited about sharing their experiences with new and prospective students. We need to acknowledge the commitment the students make, their generosity in sharing time and their willingness to travel to share in events.

Many of the students who begin their journey as Student Ambassadors go on to achieve the Elevate Award. The two are not separate paths. They are part of the same instinct: to be present, to contribute, and to make this a better place for everyone in it.”

Among the students receiving the awards was Ying Conroy, a student of Management and Financial Studies, who received awards for both her role as a student ambassador and the Elevate Award. Ying shared her experience of beginning first year as a mature student, unsure of where everything was, her lack of confidence and fear of making mistakes, and how taking the leap to be a student ambassador transformed her experience. Ying went on to become Class Representative and the Mature Student Officer for the Student Union.

“Stepping into these student-led roles completely transformed my life,” she reflected. “It was a way of making friends and building a community. These experiences unlocked doors I never imagined. I went on to become a Race Equity Champion, assisted with the Pre-EU Presidency Student Forum, and represented the Ireland-China Friendship Association in high-profile meetings with government or education bodies. The ambassador role is just your starting point. It is the gateway to unlocking your full potential on this campus.”