Two secondary school pupils from Donegal have been announced as finalists in the 2018 Pramerica Spirit of Community Awards.
Áine Sweeney from Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny and Elaine Magee of Royal And Prior Raphoe have both been selected for their outstanding volunteer work in their communities.
The local students were named in the top 20 yesterday as Pramerica announced its finalists for the 2018 Spirit of Community Awards, the only all-Ireland youth initiative of its kind.
The programme which is run in partnership with the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) and the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI), rewards post-primary students for outstanding acts of volunteerism and the positive contribution they make in their local communities and further afield.
Andrea McBride, vice president, Pramerica Systems Ireland said: “Each year I continue to be humbled by the incredible volunteer work carried out by teenagers and young people in towns and villages across Ireland.
“From caring for disabled relatives to helping people with learning disabilities, brain injuries and dementia, so much of the volunteering activities that young people are involved in is going under the radar. Our awards programme aims to shine a light on these dedicated students by applauding their achievements and encouraging others to give back to their hometown.”
The post-primary students will be presented with €500 and an engraved silver medallion at the awards ceremony on 22nd March at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
This year the top two Junior Honourees will also receive an additional €500 for their chosen charity for the first time. At the event, two of the 20 students will be named All-Ireland Youth Volunteers of the Year, receiving €1,000, a gold medallion, a crystal trophy for their school and an all-expense paid trip to the United States in May to participate in the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards ceremony.
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