Former Derry newspaper editor among recipients of first ATU alumni awards

A former Derry newspaper editor is among a number of graduates who have been celebrated for their outstanding leadership, innovation, and positive impact in their professions and communities.

Pat McArt has been named as one of Atlantic Technological University's (ATU) recipients of its inaugural Alumni Awards.

These awards are an opportunity for the university to honour alumni whose exceptional skills, leadership, and impact have inspired students, staff, and wider community.  

Alumni Awards are presented to alumni who have made outstanding contributions in business, design, education and humanities, enginneering and computing and science and health.

Pat, former editor of the Derry Journal, and six other graduates will be recognised at the university’s Spring Conferring Ceremonies, taking place next week across ATU campuses in Donegal, Sligo and Galway. 

Mr McArt, a journalist and author, will receive the Alumni Award in Design, Education and Humanities.

Other recipients include; Breege Conroy Walsh, Founder and Managing Director, BWC MedTech Consulting and Former VP of Global Quality Engineering and Services at Medtronic Inc.

Dr Shane Loughlin, Founder and President, ESE Academy – Alumni Award in Engineering & Computing 

Enda Mc Guane, Head of Asset Management, Land Development Agency – Alumni Award in Business 

Evelyn O’Toole, Founder & CEO, Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) – Alumni Award in Science & Health 

Lauren Cadden, Record-breaking Irish Sprinter and Paris 2024 Olympian – President’s Alumni Award 

Lisa Lynch, Senior Manager R&D, Boston Scientific - Alumni Award in Science & Health 

Dr Orla Flynn, President of ATU, said: “These outstanding alumni represent the very best of Atlantic Technological University. Their achievements are a source of immense pride for our university community, and they inspire our current students to dream bigger and reach higher. These are our very first Alumni Awards, and we look forward to celebrating many more incredible graduates in the years to come.” 

The Alumni Awards will be presented to the recipients during ATU’s Spring Conferring Ceremonies, held across the university’s campuses on April 29 (Letterkenny), April 30 (Sligo) and May 1 (Galway). These events will bring together the ATU community, along with families and friends, to celebrate both the graduating students and the outstanding achievements of the alumni awardees.