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NUI Galway Societies win big at BICS Awards!

Posted by The Socs Box on Wed, 30-09-2020

NUI Galway has retained its positions as the top ranked third level institution for societies on after collecting the two top best society awards for and the award for best events at the national society awards. 

At an event livestreamed by the Board of Irish College Society Awards from the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone, NUI Galway brought its tally for awards since 1996 to 75.

Following detailed entries for the awards including a portfolio and short video presentation, NUI Galway excelled in three categories:

-          Best Event – Akumakon, Anime & Manga Society

-          Best Society in a Charity of Civic Field – Sláinte Society

-          Best Society in a Cultural, Academic or Social Field – Dramsoc

 

Ríona Hughes, NUI Galway Societies Officer & BICS Executive Member, said: “As a member of the BICS Executive and co-host of the event I am thrilled we were able to produce such an interactive event for our 23 member colleges.

 

“After months of planning we were able to host and stream the most interactive awards show for students and staff across the country. We featured an impressive new online set-up with over 250 groups getting online to watch the awards live, at zoom parties or in person at socially distancing parties implementing all government Covid-19 guidelines.

“It’s yet another demonstration of the can do attitude of colleges and universities in the face of such challenging times.

 

“As NUI Galway Societies Officer I could not be more proud of our societies and I am humbled with the way they have coped with lockdown and continue to engage with us and their members, under very trying circumstances - it augurs well for the coming semester.”

 

Ms Hughes congratulated other NUI Galway societies who were up for awards, as they had won at the University Virtual Society Awards in April including GUMS Musical Society, Medical Society, Fansci Society, Potter Soc, Mincéir Whiden Society, Biomedical Society and Marine Society.

Ms Hughes added: “We want to build on the successes of our societies and we are deep in to planning for the NUI Galway Virtual Summer Festival from August 26th-29th which will feature a wide array of events from NUI Galway and the creative Galway community. Anyone who is interested can get details on www.nuigalwayevents.ie.”


-          Best Event – Akumakon, Anime & Manga Society

The fantastic NUI Galway Anime and Managa society took home the Best Event award for their outstanding convention; Akumakon. This is the fourth time this event has been nominated for a BICS award. Akumakon strives to provide an inclusive, accessible, fun and entertaining weekend for all ages interested in Anime and Manga. This year saw the event raise over €4,000 for two incredible charities - one working with the LGBT+ community in Galway and one working with struggling animators in Japan. The event saw more than 1,000 people flood through Áras na Mac Léinn over three days in January 2020.

 

-          Best Society in a Charity of Civic Field – Sláinte Society

For a second year running NUI Galway Societies took home the two overall Best Society awards for dedication to charity and providing space for students to engage in opportunities outside studies. Sláinte Society took home Best Society Charity/Civic. Judges commented on their incredible commitment to health promotion, education, awareness campaigns and fundraising - their Teddy Bear Hospital is a big hit with Galway national schools each year.

 

-          Best Society in a Cultural, Academic or Social Field – Dramsoc

The Drama Society took home the overall Best Society in a Cultural, Academic or Social Field, impressing judges with their dedication to producing top quality shows. This year they produced 20 full scale productions ranging from Shakespeare and Agatha Christie to original works. Lineup included a fresher's play, a collaborative musical with GUMS and 5 short plays for the Jerome Hynes One Act Play Series as well as hosting a wide variety of workshops and social events. Some of the greatest highlights included the Galway Summer Drama Festival in July 2019, the Dramsoc workshop Bootcamp in September and NUIG Theatre Week in February. Dramsoc were also set to host the Irish Student Drama Association's annual festival in April but the festival has now moved online due Covid-19 restrictions.

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