ANOTHER year of sterling work was celebrated by all FETAC students at Listowel Community College for their annual awards night at the Listowel Arms on Friday.

Labour's spokesperson for finance, Dublin West TD, Joan Burton — a former lecturer in accountancy at the Dublin Institute of Technology — was the guest of honour on the night and provided fitting context in her address to staff and students for the achievements over the year.

All of it was the result of months of dedicated work for the 100 or so students gathered at the Arms to receive their certification.

Course work in nursing studies, business and secretarial studies, administrative studies, sport and recreation, general vocation studies, childcare, supervision in childcare, community care, hairdressing as well as a number of other spheres were recognised on the night as the students were presented with their certs by Ms Burton.

All of it was a sharp example of the value of further education in testing economic times — with more students graduating on Friday than last year when roughly 80 received certs from Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe.

It was also a reminder of Listowel Community College's innovative links with third-level education through the Kerry Education Service; which now sees scores of adult students going on to even greater things in the IT, Tralee, following their success in the Listowel school.