KERRY’S ANNUAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE AWARDS

30 SCHOOLS REPRESENTED AT STUDENT ENTERPRISE COMPETITION AT I.T TRALEE

TECHNOLOGY was to the fore at this year’s Student Enterprise with micro companies that make robot kits; vintage arcade machines; and high tech training hurleys wining out and earning places at the national finals of the competition in May.

On Friday more than 30 mini-companies set up by local second level schools took part in the competition which was run by the Kerry Local Enterprise Office and held at the Institute of Technology in Tralee.

The contest promotes the development of innovation, idea development, business structure, sourcing of finance, marketing/sales and the presentation of a formal business plan.

A wide array of projects and products were on show ranging from magazines, upcycled clothes, foods and sport training technology to candles, educational technology and computer games.

The students created the products and ran companies – with guidance from outside mentors – selling for several months during the school year.

Prizes were presented in various categories with the overall winners of each going forward to the National Finals which take place in Croke Park on May 2.

The winner in the Senior Category was Generation STEM from Killorglin Community College.

The winning student, Timothy McGrath has developed a variety of products – including robot kits and mini centrifuges – designed to help school students to understand STEM subjects.

The runner-up in that category was Bee and Sea Lollipops from Meán Scoil Nua an LeithTriúigh in Castlegregory.

The winner of the Intermediate Category was “Custom Arcades” a company making retro arcade machines which was set up by Andrew O’Connor, Adam O’Mahony, Darragh Hanrahan and Evan Mulcare from St Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion.

The runner-up was Skate Mate, also made by a company from St Joseph’s in Ballybunion.

The Junior level winner was “Complete Camán” a complete all in one training hurley created by Fiona Brosnan, Joanne Moynihan, Chantelle Broderick, Katie Cotter and Tara Enright from Presentation Secondary in Castleisland. Runner-up in this section was “Blockout Pres”, also from Presentation Castleisland.

“The Kerry LEO has delivered this programme for 16 years,” said Kerry LEO head Tomás Hayes. “This is a real-life exercise. It involves idea generation and actual trading. Profits are generated and finance is secured. It is a taste of business and all the issues involved from finding the right idea, funding the business, collecting the money and building the team. I must commend the teachers for their efforts and our mentors for their support. Our judges had a difficult task picking the winners on Friday and I didn’t envy them.”

All photos by Domnick Walsh Eye Focus Ana McGuire, Shannon Foster, Ciara Foran and Karis Koshan and Rebecca Walsh from St Bridgets Killarney at the Student Enterprise awards at IT Tralee on Friday.

Bronagh Foley, Clodagh Begley, Klaudia Drzymala and Oralith O’Brien from Presentation Secondary Tralee at the LEO student awards.

Timothy McGrath of Killorglin Community College whose company Generation STEM was overall winner in the senior category.

Domnick Walsh All Photos by Katie Cotter, Fiona Brosnan Tara Enright, Chantelle Brodrick and Joanne Moynihan from Presentation Secondary Castleisland who were the winners in the Junior Categoy at the Kerry LEO Student Enterprise Awards on Friday.

Cian Wall and Cian O’Grady from Meán Scoil Nua an Leith-Triúigh in Castlegregory at the Kerry LEO Student Enterprise Awards.

James Devane and Tommy Flynn Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne.