Student Sport Ireland (SSI) is pleased to announce ATU Mayo student Zach Wright as the recipient of its 2023 Leadership Award.

In nominating Zack for the award, ATU Sport Officer Nigel Jennings stated that ‘’finding someone with Zach’s attributes is such a rarity’’ and describes Zach as an engaged, committed, and enthusiastic individual who puts heart. body, and soul into whatever he gives his time to.

As well as being the driving force of the ATU Mayo Mountaineering Club, Zach is also actively involved in kayaking, rugby, soccer and multiple adventure sports clubs. Similar to many student club committee members around the country, Zach serves a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of student sports clubs and the continued student participation in 3rd level sport.

As a member of the ATU Mayo Mountaineering committee, Zach helped to organise numerous student events and outings including the Mountaineering Intervarsities. Zach was also central to the renovation of the student climbing gym, whereby the committee held fundraisers for materials and the employment of route setters, and with the college Art Department arranged for the painting of murals in the gym. After all this work, the college now has a brand-new climbing facility to be proud of for a minimal cost.

Zach is a passionate adventurer, a motivated committee member and an outstanding athlete. He plays AIL rugby for Tullamore but in the absence of a college rugby team, his fellow peers drafted him into the college soccer team, and despite Zach’s claims to not really play the game, he went on to become the fulcrum of the team holding down the pivotal centre-midfield role.

During the 2022/2023 academic year, Zach also took on the role of co-ordinator of the college Recreational Soccer Programme and did such a fantastic job that he has been nominated for the position for the coming academic year. This is another example that showcases his natural ability to lead and his willingness to support ATU Mayo’s sports clubs.