01 Dec 2022
Every year a committee drawn from Trinity Business School Faculty reviews many excellent applications for Business Student of the Year. The criteria for winning this award includes a demonstration in excellence in all four categories: academics, leadership, contribution to society, and resilience. While all applicants demonstrate excellence in a variety of impressive ways, we have chosen one student who stands out as superlative in all four categories.
Matthew O’Shea, winner of the Business Student of the Year award, earned a first-class honours in all four years of his Law and Business, as well as achieving a first-class honours in the Foundation Scholarship exams. Matthew shows stellar leadership though several activities, notably as Editor-in-Chief of The Eagle: Trinity College Law Gazette.
“I am so honoured to have been named Trinity Business Student of the Year for 2022,” Matthew said. “It has been a remarkable privilege to be a part of the fantastic community in the Business School, where I have learned so much from so many. I know that I will treasure the friendships and memories made here for many years to come.”
Our four finalists also demonstrated excellence in all categories (in alphabetical order):
Victoria Salganik finished her Global Business degree with first class honours having entered Trinity as an Access student. She followed her passion for photography and became Head Photographer for Trinity News, as well as a Public Relations Officer and Chairperson of Trinity’s Photography Society (DUPA).
Victoria enjoyed how “The experience of making it to the finals reinforced the comforting fact that there is no such thing as a “typical” business student. Regardless of your background or area of interest within business - your achievements, no matter how big or small, do not go unrecognised.”
Chloe Staunton graduated from Business Economics and Social Studies (BESS) this year and stands out due to her leadership achievements. She won the Dean’s Leadership Award due to her work on the Student2Student mentoring programme and has been elected as Welfare and Equality Officer in Trinity’s Student Union. Through these roles, along with serving as Class Representative, she has made an important contribution ensuring that materials and events are accessible to all.
When asked about the awards, Chloe said, “The competition allowed me to reflect on my time with Trinity Business School and how it helped shape my experiences. It’s nice being recognised and knowing my contributions to the Trinity society didn’t go unnoticed.”
Ranjana Singh completed her degree in Management Science and Information Systems Studies (MSIS) and has maintained first-class honours all the way through her time at Trinity. She moved up through various leadership roles at the Trinity Student Managed Fund (SMF), as Head of Women in Business, and as Director of Operations at the Irish Student Consulting Group (ISCG).
Ranjana credits these roles in helping her with this competition: “I've been heavily involved in business societies both in Trinity through The Student Managed Fund, and on a national level through the Irish Student Consulting Group. Having held leadership positions in both, I got the opportunity to implement initiatives which helped members gain relevant insights and experiences through events, internships and mentorship. These activities cultivated over my four years at Trinity alongside my studies, were the reason I was successful in this competition.”
Klaudia Obieglo achieved a first in Computer Science and Business in all four years of her time at Trinity. She has served as Trinity Access Ambassador, as well as Head Mentor for the Computer Science and Engineering Faculty in the Student2Student Society, for which she was awarded the Dean’s Leadership Award. She is active in Code First Girls and has taught coding to women looking for a career change.
Klaudia said, “It’s easy to forget where we came from. We focus on our struggles and the battles we lost, and at times do not give ourselves the recognition we deserve. This competition allowed me to reflect and to realise just how much I have achieved and how much I still hope to do.”
Congratulations to all our winners! These students will receive their awards at the Trinity Business Forum on March 8th, 2023.
