#conGRADS

It’s peak graduation season – that time of year when the hard work and dedication of thousands of students is acknowledged at graduation ceremonies and prize-givings across the country. 

But there is only one ceremony worth talking about (in our opinion!) and that is the Ulster University’s School of Communication and Media Awards which took place yesterday (Monday, July 2).

The awards mark the end of the academic year and showcase the achievements of standout students who came first in various projects, modules and courses across the University’s Communications degrees; and this was the first year some of our team from the Belfast office went along to present the inaugural Mirror Media Award!

Some of NI’s most renowned comms & marketing consultancies including Smarts Communicate, ASG & Partners, Morrow Communications and Navigator Blue, also put up awards; and our industry bodies CIPR NI and PANI also represent.

These students walk away from their graduation ceremonies with a new credential, a new ticket to success; and go on to join the professional ranks as competent contributors to the 21st century workforce.  And that is why it is SO important for businesses/employers like us and the agencies mentioned to support our academic institutions, backing this new generation of leaders and changemakers emerging into the Northern Ireland mediascape.  

The School of Communication and Media has an impressive number of prizes to offer their students every year and this year, we added one to the mix – the Mirror Media Award for the Best Student on the Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Media Communication (very fitting, right?!)  

The winning student was Noelle Kelly, pictured below with our Business Comms Manager LesleyAnn Diffin (also BSc Hons PR alumna from the Ulster University School of Communication – fun fact!)

Noelle’s lecturer Fiona McMahon told the audience how impressive Noelle’s achievement was, especially given that she was completing her postgraduate studies on a part-time basis while working full-time in the role of Senior Marketing Associate with Almac Group.  And what makes our lovely prizewinner even more amazing is that she will continue her studies at Ulster Uni in the Autumn, returning to complete her dissertation and hopefully achieve a Master’s in Digital Media Communication.

Well done Noelle on being the first ever winner of the Mirror Media award.  We’re already excited to meet the Class of 2019!