NUI Galway has launched a calendar to celebrate the successes of its NUI Galway First Year Schools Competition. The art competition is part of the University Trail Access Programme designed to encourage an interest in third-level education among students in selected Secondary Schools in Galway City, County and Gaeltacht regions. A record number of over 400 first-year students from 13 Galway secondary schools participated in this years' NUI Galway First Year Schools Competition. Students were asked to express through the media of Art, Music, Drama and Writing why they would like to study at NUI Galway, what it would mean for them and how it would change their future. The academic-year calendar features highlights of the artwork submitted and will be distributed to students of the participating secondary schools. NUI Galway Access School Co-Ordinator, Ashla Ward, says the competition entries were of a very high calibre: "We were very impressed by the aspirations, ideas and effort that the students put into the competition. The creation of a calendar by the University demonstrates the value NUI Galway puts on this marvellous work." The University Trail activities help to build a relationship between the pupils and the university over time by a series of structured fun, interactive and informative activities. Now in its seventh year, the University Trail programme has delivered its activities to over 9,000 students. The University Trail Access Programme is supported by the HEA targeted funding for special initiatives. -ends-