JCI Ireland award Ireland’s Outstanding Young People National celebration of young Irish talent at Awards night Junior Chamber International (JCI) - the world's largest leadership and personal development organisation for young people –held their annual “The Outstanding Young Persons of the Year” (TOYP) Award ceremony in Limerick where seven young Irish nominees were recognized for outstanding personal achievements, two of these students were NUI Galway's own Melanie Henessy and Sean Kearns. Three of the winners will go forward to represent Ireland to the JCI World Outstanding Young Person of the Year to be held in Osaka in November. Past legendary recipients of this prestigious award include Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy and David Hall, founder of Make a wish foundation, to name a few.

Melanie Henessy is a 20 year old medicine student who helped set up a school in Nepal. Melanie also established her own University society, Draoicht, to generate funds to build an orphanage for the children of Nepal where she is currently working on improving the lives of these children. Melanie won the “Best Civic Contribution Award” at this years NUI Galway annual Society Awards.

Also 18 year old Sean Kearns, a nursing student in NUI Galway, who has been involved in a variety of voluntary experience, playing an active leadership role in many of them. Sean was active in many societies this year including Lit&Deb, Dramsoc and Best Buddies, a University society he established this year. It is a friendship programme that pairs college students in fun, enriching one to one friendships with students who have an intellectual disability; where he organised a “Ban the R Word” Campaign at NUI Galway and a Best Buddies Ball. This year Sean won the “Best Fresher Award” in the NUI Galway annual Society Awards.

President of JCI Ireland, Mark Kelly says “The Outstanding Young Person of the Year Award ceremony was an amazing night. It is a great opportunity for us to recognise so many great young people out there that are doing astonishing work accomplishing greatness and the awards help in highlighting these remarkable achievements. The JCI Outstanding Young Person of the Year Award recognises these young people and JCI encourages them and others to seek excellence and serve others.” For more information on TOYP or any Junior Chamber International events, visit the JCI Ireland website www.jci-ireland.org