UNIVERSITY of Limerick students are making a significant impact in the local community in the run-up to Christmas.
That’s according to UL President Professor Kerstin Mey, citing the many hundreds of students that go on placement every year and the thousands of volunteer hours students provide to external organisations.
UL students contributed more than 27,000 volunteer hours to over 150 organisations, charities, and clubs both at home and abroad this year as part of the President’s Volunteer Awards.
Two specific examples of students on placement are highlighted in this year’s UL Christmas video. Produced by Limerick film maker and videographer Steve Hall, the video shows student midwives, dietetic and occupational therapy students working at University Maternity Hospital Limerick and UL’s Access Campus in Roxboro.
President Mey praised those who go on placement as part of their studies and those who have given their time voluntarily to organisations.
“UL has a long-established student volunteer culture, and 580 students were recognised for their outstanding civic engagement during the last academic year. The work they do is phenomenal, and they do it on top of their studies and in many cases on top of work and sporting commitments.
The video features BSc Midwifery students Eve Weldon and Ellen Bennett and Higher Diploma Midwifery student Rebecca Ferguson on placement in the University Maternity Hospital Limerick, where they and others provide a vital, caring service to women, babies and their families.
MSc Human Nutrition and Dietetic students Rosemary Cushion and Emma Dolan along with MSc Occupational Therapy students Sarah Comerford and Jane Linehan are also included in the video providing a health and wellness session to a group from Family Carers Ireland at UL’s Access Campus in Roxboro.
The ceremony for the President’s Volunteer Awards took place in UL recently. Now into its 12th year, the awards are organised by the Community Liaison Office in the Student Affairs Division.
A minimum of 20 volunteer hours are required by each student to participate and UL has honoured more than 4,660 students for their volunteering since the programme began in 2010.
Organisations who have benefitted from student volunteers include ISPCC/Childline Limerick, Midwest Simon Community, Irish Cancer Society, Irish Red Cross, AWARE, Barnardo’s Ireland, Hope Foundation, Scouting Ireland and GAA clubs across the country.
Watch the UL Christmas video here
