High-achieving law graduate awarded Chancellor’s Medal at Dublin City University

Dublin City University has awarded its Chancellor’s Medal to Trina Mawuena Dzidonu, a BA in Economics, Politics & Law graduate for achieving excellence in both academic and extra-curricular aspects of university life. Ms Dzidonu was presented with the medal at her graduation ceremony last week.

Professor John Doyle, executive dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, praised Ms Dzidonu for her success and contribution to the University: “Trina’s passion for law, intercultural and intergenerational issues is very evident from the decisions she has made through participation in societies and external volunteering programmes. The two key themes that can be discerned from her extra-curricular involvement are using law to help people, and working to bridge divides between different communities.”

On arriving in DCU, Ms Dzidonu joined the Free Legal Advice Centre society, a group that trains students to provide legal advice clinics to other students. In subsequent years, she became a key member of its committee and in final year held the position of chairperson.

She also worked as an intern in the Children’s Rights Alliance, the Office of the Attorney General and completed a work placement with Frontline Human Rights Defenders.

Ms Dzidonu also found time to teach IT skills to older members of the local community through her involvement with the Intergenerational Learning Programme. As part of her involvement with DCU’s Africa Society, she visited her home country of Ghana as a volunteer working her to help children of the country – a trip which led to her becoming involved with DCU Breaking Borders Committee (Intercultural Society).

Professor Doyle added: “Trina is a driven, committed and hugely determined individual who has a long standing passion for law and justice. She has nurtured and developed this passion into actively helping people to the very best of her ability, both within the DCU community and beyond.

“She has not only had a significant impact through her voluntary work, but has managed to do so while remaining a dedicated and high achieving student with DCU. This combination makes her, in our opinion, a very worthy recipient of the Chancellor’s medal.”

Ms Dzidonu graduated with a 1.1 degree at her graduation ceremony last week and is currently working as a teaching assistant in the DCU Business School.