STUDENT ENTERPRISE AWARD WINNERS WHAT’S ON WEATHER VIEW LIFESTYLE SPORT 24 PAGE PULLOUT
THE brightest young minds in Wexford gathered at the National Opera House last Thursday for the county’s Student Enterprise Awards 2019. And, after careful consideration from the judging committee and a long, agonising wait for the finalists, it was announced that five teenage entrepenuers from three local schools will go on to represent Wexford in the National Finals in Croke Park on Friday, May 3.
In the Junior Category, Jack Cullen from Colaiste Abbain, Adamstown was named overall winner. Narrowly finishing ahead of second-placed Billy Phayres (Bunclody Vocational College), Jack can now look forward to a big day out in the capital and a chance of national glory. He will be joined at Croke Park by winner of the Intermediate Category, Lachina O’Reilly Finlay from Creagh College. She beat off strong competition from Harry Redmond, Paul Dobbs, Luke Williams (Enniscorthy Vocational College) in second place.
Completing the line-up are the winners of the Senior Category, Dervla Walsh, Kayla Kenny and Dara Tuinstra of Gorey Community School. Their team, ‘Gael- Go Games’, impressed the judges and, despite fierce competition from Leah Scallan, Polly Frost, Cora Redmond, Aine Byrne and Faye Larkin (Colaiste Bride, Enniscorthy), it’s the girls from Gorey who are moving on to the big event in May.
With over 1,400 entrants from twenty different schools, these five students are part of a select band, and, according to Breege Cosgrave, Senior Enterprise Development Officer of Local Enterprise Office Wexford, they are sure to represent Wexford with pride in a few weeks’ time: ‘We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Wexford. Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck in Croke Park on May 3.’
Beginning in September of last year, students from all across the county were encouraged to begin their entrepreneurial journey, researching, setting-up and running their own real-world businesses with the help of teachers, student enterprise co-ordinators and the Local Enterprise Office.
And Ms.Cosgrave believes the skills acquired will stand them in good stead for years to come. ‘What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers.’
In addition to the three main awards, a variety of other gongs were handed out on the night. In the LCVP/LCA Section, Michaela Roberts and Leah Murphy of Bunclody Vocational College took the honours.
The Environmental Category was won by Sophia Kononova from Bridgetown College, while Merit Awards were presented to Rhian Fitzgerald, Jason Dempsey, Jason Hosey Doyle, Nathan Bolton, Michael O’Keefe Dobbs and John O’Keefe Dobbs. Social Contribution Awards went to Barry Cunnea, Laura O’Brien, Emily Kyle and Keelyn Conway, with the Best Display Award going to Sadhbh Corcoran and Katlyn O’Connor. Finally, showing that it’s not all about the students, Rita Breen of Colaiste Abbain was named Entrepreneurial Educator Of The Year.
Paying tribute to Schools Coordinator Ms Emer Doyle, who has played a pivotal role in the development of the programme over the last 13 years, Ms Cosgrave said: ‘Her visionary approach in the delivery of the programme saw a significant increase in the numbers participating and her ability to deliver the programme in a creative, fun, interactive way instilled confidence and brought out the best in students. Emer is a role model for female entrepreneurship in county Wexford.’
THE SKILLS THE STUDENTS LEARN ALONG THE WAY WILL HELP THEM BECOME MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL THROUGHOUT THEIR FUTURE CAREERS