The annual Agricultural Science Post Graduation Celebration and Awards Ceremony took place on Friday, December 12th in University College Cork (UCC).

The night celebrated and paid tribute to the class of 2025 and recognised the outstanding academic achievement of several individual members of the class.

In total, 14 awards with a combined value of €7,750 were presented on the evening, reflecting the varied strengths and interests of the students.

The overall event sponsor was FBD Trust. The support of industry stakeholders for these awards reflects their recognition of the standard of Agricultural Science graduates and their potential future roles within the sector.

Sponsors included FBD Trust, Cork Grassland Services, Munster Agricultural Society, Southern Milling, Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, MSD Animal Health Ireland, FDC, Irish Farmers Journal, Allied Irish Banks, Fertiliser Association of Ireland and Teagasc.

Pictured in University College Cork at an awards ceremony for graduates of the Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree are Michael Berkery, Chairman FBD Trust, Sarah Cussen, Carrigaline, Co Cork receiving the FBD Student of the Year Award and Prof Frank Buckley, Head of Agricultural Science and academic director of the Agricultural Science degree programme at UCC. Photo O’Gorman Photography.

Details on the individual awards and recipients are available below:

• ‘Cork Grassland Services Grassland Student of the Year’ award to best student across 3^rd and 4^th year ‘grassland science’ modules AG3004 and AG4004. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Neil O’Leary.
• ‘Munster Agricultural Society Sustainable Agriculture Award’ to best student in 2^nd year module AG2001 – Sustainable Feed Production. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Katelyn Walsh.
• ‘FBD Trust Soil Science Award’ to best student in 3^rd year module AG3002 – Soil Science and Soil/Land Management. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Sarah Cussen.
• ‘Southern Milling Award’ to best student in 4^th year module AG4007 – Animal Nutrition II. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Sarah Cussen.
• MSD ‘Bovilis #ProtectTheFuture Award’ to best student in 4^th year module AG4009 – Bovine Health, Behaviour and Welfare. Recipient Katelyn Walsh.
• ‘AIB Best Work Placement Award’x2. Silver medal plus €250. Recipients Sarah Cussen and Katelyn Walsh.
• ‘ICBF Brian Wickham Award’. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Sarah Cussen.
• ‘Irish Farmers Journal Award’. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Elma O’Hanlon.
• ‘FDC Jack Murphy Award’. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Sarah Cussen.
• ‘Teagasc Paddy O’Keeffe Award’. Silver medal plus €250. Recipients Sarah Cussen and Sean Crowley.
• ‘2025 Agricultural Science Post-Graduate Award’ sponsored by Fertiliser Association of Ireland. Silver medal plus €250. Recipient Samson Mwangi Ithagu.
• ‘FBD Trust Best Overall Student Award’. Gold medal plus €1000. Recipient Sarah Cussen.

Featured image caption: Pictured in University College Cork at an awards ceremony for graduates of the Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree are Prof Frank Buckley, Head of Agricultural Science and academic director of the Agricultural Science degree programme at UCC, Teagasc Paddy O’Keeffe Award Winners Sarah Cussen, Carrigaline and Sean Crowley, Ballinhassig and Prof Laurence Shalloo, Teagasc Head of Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Programme.  Photo O’Gorman Photography.