Athy pupils honoured by Microsoft
Victor Malisenco, Conor Timpson Olivia Kulbaba, & Irene Gheorge
IT was a day to remember for four outstanding students from Scoil Mhichíl Naofa in Athy when Olivia Kulbaba, Conor Timpson, Irene Gheorge and Victor Malisenco were chosen as Microsoft Dream Space Ambassadors (DSAs), and celebrated with a Graduation Day at Microsoft Ireland HQ.
The four students were welcomed to Microsoft’s state-of-the-art campus, where they were recognised for their dedication and contributions throughout the year.
As DSAs they worked closely with Microsoft, learning coding, which they then had to teach to the rest of the children in our school.
Their work throughout the year included completing coding activities with all the class levels within the school.
They also ran a coding week, promoted Safer Internet Day and spoke to the adults in the school about internet safety as part of the OWL Project (Older Wiser Learners).
Their visit began with a guided tour of the building, culminating in breathtaking views from the rooftop overlooking Leopardstown Racecourse.
The DSAs then rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on robotics workshop featuring Sphero Indie Robots, where they explored the world of coding and automation.
The excitement continued in the games room, which was a haven of fun and relaxation. From a 360-degree photo booth and large-screen gaming consoles to ping pong and classic board games, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Next came a Minecraft Workshop, where creativity and competition collided. The ambassadors were challenged to design a pixel art character and bring it to life within the Minecraft universe.
Conor and Victor impressed the judges and emerged as winners of the challenge — a proud moment for the whole group.
The day concluded with a special awards ceremony, where all four ambassadors were honoured for their commitment and achievements, and they received the highest accolade available: the prestigious platinum award.
