Bank of Ireland urges all schools and students to enter the 2008 National Student Awards

Prize fund of over €60,000 honouring exemplary student performance

Bank of Ireland is urging all 2nd Level schools across the country to enter into the National Student Awards before the January 2008 deadline. The awards recognise exemplary student performance across a range of competencies and provides participating schools and students with a chance of winning a share of the prize fund of €60,000.

This year the category of 'community spirit' has been added to those of art, sport, academic achievement and entrepreneurial spirit to acknowledge the important contribution that many students make in their own communities.

The 2008 national finalists will each receive €1,500 and an additional €3,000 for their school. From these, one will be chosen as the overall national winner and will be awarded a cash prize of €3,000 for themselves, plus €5,000 for their school. The awards will be presented at a National Awards Ceremony in May 2008.

Heather Dawson, Personal Banking, Bank of Ireland says, "The awards are now in their third year as a national competition and the feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive. We feel that it is extremely important to acknowledge and reward worthy role models in schools for their talent, effort and commitment across a wide range of competencies."

The awards will be judged over three stages, starting with a 'school stage' where pupils and teachers nominate the students they believe have excelled. Each school can have up to 10 winners - one in each award category at junior and senior level and these nominations must be submitted before Friday, 25th January 2008. All winners from this stage will receive a certificate and an awards plaque.

Next is the 'regional stage' where an independent judging panel will determine the 10 winners for each of the eight designated regions. These regional winners will be presented with their award certificate and an ipod nano at a series of regional awards events during March 2008. Finally, just 10 of these will be selected for the national awards stage of the competition and attend the gala National Awards Ceremony in May 2008. One of these students will be named overall National Student of the Year for 2008.

The 2007 winner of the overall National Student of the Year Award was Peadar O'Mathuna from Colaiste Daibheid in Cork City.

Full details of how to submit an entry for the Bank of Ireland Student Awards can be found on www.bankofireland.ie/studentawards or from any branch nationwide.

ENDS 5th October 2007

For Reference:
Deirdre Kingston
Group Corporate Communications
Bank of Ireland
Tel: 01 604 3788
Email: Deirdre.Kingston@boimail.com

Heather Dawson
Personal Banking
Bank of Ireland
Tel: 01 604 3063
Email: Heather.Dawson@boimail.com