Students look after feathered friends at GMIT
Students of the Bachelor of Business in Hotel & Catering Management course at GMIT have set up 18 bird feeder locations on the grounds of the campus, from proceeds of a fundraiser they hosted recently as part of their degree studies.
The students used the profits from their ‘Rocky Horror meets Halloween’ fundraiser, to invest in 18 bird feeders, 40 kilos of bird nuts and seeds and a number of bird boxes which have been strategically placed throughout the grounds of GMIT for the wellbeing of the area’s natural bird population.
Lecturer George Finnegan showered the students with praise for both their very successful execution of their event and in particular for their very astute eco eye.
“Feeding the masses comes in many different guises when filtered through the astute senses of hotel management students,” he says.
“The students are required as part of their final year Conference & Banqueting Module to create, theme, market and execute a themed event of their choice. When all costs are taken into account and repaid, students are then faced with the task of distributing the remaining proceeds from ticket sales to a cause of their choosing.
“Previous beneficiaries have included the Galway Hospice, Cancer Care West, the Lions Club of Galway to mention but a few.
“This year’s choice shows a great connection with the tradition of the event which has been in existence at the Hotel School since the first students undertook a Food of the Aran Islands theme in 1974 and is in keeping with the creative approach of this group evident right from the off,” said Mr Finnegan.
The feeders and boxes were gratefully received by the grounds staff of the college whose commitment to ensuring that they are replenished and maintained swayed the student’s decision to divert their funds to the wildlife of the college.