Mr. John Deane Chairman of the Board of Management,  welcomed Bishop Paul Colton Patron Ashton School, Mr. Ted Owens Chief Executive Officer of Cork Education Training Board and Patron of Ashton, Board of Management, Guest Speaker Professor  Mark Hutchinson, a past pupil of Ashton, parents and students to the Annual Awards Day.

Mr. Adrian Landen Principal outlined the year’s activities and achievements in all areas of the school curriculum, including extra-curricular activities  and  general school development.  He complimented the commitment and dedication of staff and students.

Guest Speaker Professor Mark Hutchinson congratulated students and shared his thoughts and memories of his time at Ashton, having been in the Leaving Cert. Class of 1995. He spoke with fondness of his time at Ashton and the impact it had on his career path. He is currently a Professor of Corporate Finance in the Department of Accounting, Finance, and Information Systems in UCC since 2002.  He is the youngest person in the history of UCC to be appointed Professor, and in 2000 was a Fulbright Scholar.  Professor Mark Hutchinson is indeed an outstanding example to young people, with a long list of publications and journal articles published.  He suggested to students that it was important to develop a mental toughness against failure, relating from his own prestigious success that there were ‘lots of failures’.  He wisely advised against an emotional response to failure, stating ‘You can’t give up when you get knock-backs’.  Instead Professor Hutchinson recommended ‘knowing what you want is important to be successful’.   He quoted sportsman Michael Jordan, ‘I have  failed  over and over in my life, but it’s in overcoming these failures that I have succeeded’.   Excellent  advice  for all of us.

Assisted by Deputy  Principal Ms. Anne Marie Hewison and Mr. William Deane, Professor Hutchinson congratulated students and presented  award winners with their prizes.

The Ashton Hall of Fame Award was then presented by Mr. John Deane to Professor Mark Hutchinson in honour of his academic excellence in the world of Finance.

The evening concluded with Head Girl Heidi Hogan, and Head Boy Philip Brownlow, thanking everyone for their time and presence at this very special occasion in the school calendar.

The Des Deasy Memorial Trophy for Engineering was awarded to Philip Brownlow.  The Hipwell Trophy for Business subjects was presented to Cillian O’Connell.

The Pfizer Perpetual Trophy for Leaving Certificate Examination results were awarded to Alice Walsh, and Eoin Conway.  The Rochelle Trophy for Junior certificate Examination results were presented to Annie Walsh.  First Year Merit Card prize awarded to Eleanor O’Meara. Corn Mhic Uistin awarded to Jack Marlborough, and Darren Wilkinson won the Corn an Amhairginigh.

Ashton School Players Award for Contribution to Performing Arts was presented to Aaron Deane.

The Shereen Gokul Memorial Trophy for Girl’s Hockey was awarded to Joanne Schiller.

The Andrew Chambers Memorial Trophy for Boy’s Hockey was awarded to Glenn Healy.

The Victor Bond Memorial Trophy for Ashton School Junior Citizenship Award was presented to Dean Exshaw.  The Ashton School Trophy for Senior Citizenship student of the year was presented to James O’Leary.

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