Every year we honour a student who has shown outstanding all-round talent, enthusiasm and team spirit. As well as the kudos, they win a yearâs scholarship to the school. In 2024, we split the award to include Junior Student of the Year (age 5-10) and Senior Student of the Year (age 11-18)
Winners
Gorey
2025 Junior: Jay Swinburne
2025 Senior: Keelin Kinsella
2024 Junior: J.J. Molloy
2024 Senior: Louis OâDriscoll
2023 Belle Flavin
2022 Jack McDermott
2020 Naoise Henderson Lacey &
CiarĂĄn Smith
2019 K-Lou Murray
2018 Bronwyn Campbell Carty
2017 Padraig OâLeary
2016 Madison Colemen
2015 Al Lambert
2014 Katie-May Byrne
2013 Jordi Wortmann
2012 Cara OâConnor
2011 Melissa Larkin
2010 Ciara Hughes
2009 Rosie Byrne
2008 Maeve OâKeefe
2007 CaolĂĄn Kelly
2006 Sara Jane Mangan
Arklow/Avoca
2020 Jack McDermott
2019 Ăine Byrne
2018 Ioana Bosneaga
2017 Caylin Walsh & Eimear Wolohanâ¨2016 Clodagh OâSullivan
2015 Seamus Macken
2014 Katie Davis
2013 Liam Prendergast
2012 Karla Tracey
2011 Rose Pollard
2010 Jessica Davis
2009 Mark McGann
2008 Diewerke de Zwarte
2007 Shauna Crooke
2006 Peter McGann
ITS Film-Making School
2019 Qadeer Hussain
This perpetual trophy commemorates a talented student from our original Avoca school who passed away in her teens. It is given to a student we feel has the most potential to pursue performance as a course of study or profession.
Winners
2025 Lauren Croke
2024 Shauna Mulhall
2023 xâ¨
2022 Genevieve Flemingâ¨
2020 K-Lou Murrayâ¨
2019 Bronwyn Campbell Cartyâ¨
2018 Jordi Wortmann
â¨2017 Leila Mulhallâ¨
2016 Elizabeth Gahanâ¨
2015 Lily Henrich Doyleâ¨
2014 SeĂĄn OâKeeffeâ¨
2013 Cara OâConnorâ¨
2012 Erika Copelandâ¨
2011 Laura Doyle
â¨2010 Karla Traceyâ¨
2009 Jonny Holden
â¨2008 Emma Fosterâ¨
2007 Conal OâShiel
â¨2006 Tanis Tonge
This occasional award is given to a student who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to their skills, to performance and to making a positive contribution to the school.
Winners
2025 Sadie Nolan
2024 Caitlin Connor
2023 xx
2022 Nessa Last
2014 Lily Henrich Doyle
â¨2011 Ăine Collierâ¨
2007 Sarah Morris
Awarded to a student who shows remarkable creativity and imagination in their performances.
Winners
2025 Danielle Mulhall
2024 Dylan Byrne
This perpetual award, introduced in 2022 in honour of ITS founder Anne Shumate, recognises a student who radiates positivity and excellence in performance, much like the aurora.
Winners
2025 RoisĂn Healey
2024 Kristian Urdis
2023 Danielle Mulhall
It doesnât all happen in the glare of the spotlights⌠without dedicated backstage crew (including, but not limited to: set/lighting/costume/props/makeup) the shows wouldnât run as smoothly. Every now and again, one of our volunteers gets plucked out of the shadows to celebrate their usually unsung efforts.
Winners
2025 Aleksandra Bujak
2023 Belle Staunton
2011 Jessica Davisâ¨
2008 Rachel Bothwellâ¨
2007 Eoin OâGrady
Innovations Theatre School has long had the mission of nurturing young performers. We also want to encourage and support those who wish to pursue further training in performance and production.
The Bursary is available to any student who has been with the school for at least two years and left the school no more than five years before the time of application. The award is open to anyone undertaking a full-time professional training course in a performance-related field. As well as the disciplines of dance, acting or singing, this may include (but not be restricted to) design or direction for stage or screen, stage management, radio, film or television production.
We awarded our first Bursary in May 2017 to Lily Henrich Doyle, a student who won every award available in Innovations and who worked as a student teacher with us in her final two years. She studied at Liberties College in Performance â Drama and has made a few guest appearances as a drama or dance teacher since we waved her off on her adventures. You may now recognise Lily Henrich Doyle as Innovations Theatre School’s drama teacher and Creative Director.
Jordi Wortmann became our second beneficiary in September 2019 as he started a course in Acting for Film, TV and Theatre at Bray Institute of Further Education. Jordi was both a Student of the Year and recipient of the Deirdre Shortt Award, as well as taking a number of leading roles in our productions and in the 2018 Disneyland Time to Shine trip.