A 14-year-old student who lost her sister in the Navan bus tragedy and subsequently formed a counselling group to help survivors and grieving students was last night awarded Student of the Year.
Anita McCluskey, from Navan, Co Meath, was honoured at the inaugural National Student Awards, for her work in helping fellow students and survivors come to terms with the tragedy which occurred in May 2005.
The student from St Michael's Loreto in Navan, who was a survivor of the bus crash which killed her older sister, formed the Seedlings group in an effort to offer weekly meetings where grief could be shared and consolation sought.
Despite the loss of her sister, teachers have described Anita as a "shining example for other pupils".
"Anita seems to put happiness into everything she endeavours and always remains positive," said her teacher, Ms Sturdy.
Almost a year after the road tragedy in which five school girls died, the Seedlings group is running a campaign selling road safety key rings in an effort to raise awareness of road safety.
The money raised will go to the rehab units in both Drogheda and Navan hospitals and will also contribute towards the purchase of a portable ventilator for the children's ward at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda.
The national student awards, which are sponsored by Bank of Ireland, begin within schools and enable pupils and teachers to vote for a student they believe to have excelled. Eighty students emerge as regional winners and eight winners are selected nationally.
Last night, Ms McCluskey collected €3,000 and also €5,000 for her school, while the other seven winners received prizes of €1,500 each and €3,000 for their schools.