More than 50 teachers and youth workers received awards from President Mary McAleese yesterday for their work with young people.
The civic merit awards were presented to 52 people who acted as leaders in Gaisce, the President's Award.
The awards encourage young people to set goals in areas such as community involvement, personal skills, physical recreation and adventure.
Some teenagers do voluntary work with the elderly or those with special needs. They learn skills such as sign language and first aid and take up challenging expeditions and new sporting activities.
More than 13,000 teenagers are currently involved in the programme and they are supported by 800 President's Award leaders.
Mrs McAleese praised the leaders for freely giving up their time to encourage young people.
"These are men and women with busy lives, with jobs to do and families to run, but they are also people with a profound sense of civic duty, people who want Ireland's future to be the best it can be and who know investment in our young people is the key to realising that ambition," she said.
"So for no pay, no recognition and no guarantee of thanks they give their time, their talent, their energy and with those essential tools, that building block, the President's Award is able to flourish."
Gaisce achievers: the full list
Kenneth Barry,Scouting Ireland; Tomás Bell,Portmarnock Scout Group; Florence Blake LYIT,Donegal; Gaye Buckley, Rockwell College; Ann Marie Byrne, National Learning Network; Louie Casserly, St Anthony's & Claddagh Credit Union and Civil Def; Mary Clare-Sweetman, Glanmire C C, Cork; Vera Collins, Glanmire C C, Cork; Mary Coughlan, Ard Scoil Mhuire, Co Limerick; Dominica Crean, Salesian College, Celbridge;
Carmel Cruise, St Colman's College; Norah D'Arcy, Galway Community College; Louise Dillon-Reeves, St Mary's College, Knockbeg, Carlow; Frank Dowling, Chanel College, Coolock; Mary Fox, St Fintans High School; Mary Galbraith, Crana College, Buncrana; Mary Galvin, Loreto College, Mullingar; Michelle Garry, Letterkenny VS (Errigal College); Geraldine Garvey, St Macartan's College, Monaghan; Darina Halpenny, St Louis' High School, Dublin 6; Daniel Healy, CBS, Sidney Hill, Cork; Máiréad Hogan, SMI Newcastle West, Co Limerick; Catherine Keenan, St Augustine's School, Blackrock;
Miriam Kelly, Heywood C S, Laois; Maura McCarthy, St Joseph's College, Lucan; Margaret McCollum, St Eunan's College, Letterkenny; Patricia McElhone, Corran College, Ballymote; Edward McEvoy, Tullamore College; Breda McHugh, Milford VS, Donegal; Tom McKernan, 1st Dublin Fairview Scouts; Pádraig McMorrow, Presentation SS, Kilkenny; Fiona McQuillan, Ursuline College, Sligo; Gerry Moore, St Columba's Comprehensive School, Glenties; Elizabeth Nagle, St Mary's HS, Midleton, Co Cork;
Marie Uí Nidh, SP Mhic Dara, Carna; Brídgín Ní Cheallaigh, Gairmscoil Chú Uladh; Páraic Noone, Drumshanbo VS; Seán Ó Fearraigh, Gairmscoil Chú Uladh; Maura O'Brien, Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton; Norman O'Brien, Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton; Helena O'Dea, St Patrick's College, Lacken Cross; Jerh O'Donoghue, Rathmore Social Action Group; Noelle O'Donohue-McCaul,Loreto SS, Balbriggan; Colette O'Hagan, Summerhill College & Corran College; Caitríona O'Reilly, Loreto Convent SS, Balbriggan; Paddy O'Reilly, Trinity Comp, Ballymun; Margaret Raftery, Ursuline College, Sligo;
John Paul Reilly, Collinstown Park Community College; Brian Sheridan, St Finian's College, Mullingar; Fiona Smith, Mercy SS, Goldenbridge; Susan Tector, G and K Training Centre, Cork; Orlaith Underwood, Tullamore College; Jackie Whelan, Chanel College, Coolock
