Six through to national finals
SIX TEENAGE entrepreneurs from two Wexford secondary schools will represent the county at the national finals of the Student Enterprise Programme in Croke Park in Dublin.
The students were all competing at the Wexford county final last week which was held in Clayton White’s Hotel. About 1,800 students from 20 schools took part in the programme.
Every September, secondary school entrepreneurs set up and run their own enterprises, learning about the world of business with help from their teachers and the Local Enterprise Office.
In the Junior Category the student who will represent Wexford at the National Finals is Seán Bennett from Ramsgrange Community School with his business ‘Simple Safer Scents’.
Twins Mira and Cara Protopopov-Power from Ramsgrange Community School will be representing Wexford in Croke Park in the Intermediate Category with their idea ‘Phocus’.
Winners in the Senior Category were Thomas Devereux, Christopher Glover and Oisin Fortune from St Peter’s College who will go on to the National Final with their ‘Knock on Wood’ idea.
The local students will be competing with hundreds of others from all over Ireland in Croke Park on May 3 at the Nationals.
Special guests at the final included programme sponsor representatives from BNY Mellon, PwC, The Environmental Protection Agency and C&R Print. Cathaoirleach Paddy Kavanagh and chief executive Tom Enright represented Wexford County Council, while Wexford Mayor Frank Staples was also present.
The competition is the most successful student enterprise programme of its kind in the country.
Tom Enright said: ‘Building on the success of the last 15 years, the Student Enterprise Programme is growing in strength every year and commended the commitment of schools in supporting youth entrepreneurship.
‘Principals, teachers and importantly, the student entrepreneurs themselves deserve huge credit for their dedication, innovation and hard work. Working in close partnership with local schools across the county, the Local Enterprise Office is helping to nurture our next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.’ THE RESULTS Junior category: Winner Seán Bennett from Ramsgrange Community School. Runners-up Thomas Coleman and Conor Murphy from Coláiste Abbhain; Third place Cillian Doyle from Coláiste Éamonn Rís; and also third place Lucy Egan, Áine Sinnott, Shauna Doyle and Layla Coady from Enniscorthy Vocational College.
Intermediate category: Winner Mira and Cara Protopopov-Power from Ramsgrange Community School. Runner-up Conor Keane from Coláiste Éamonn Rís; Best Report Ruth Byrne and Leah Jordan from Bunclody Vocational College; Best Interview Jack Wilson from Enniscorthy Vocational College.
Senior category: Winners Thomas Devereux, Christopher Glover and Oisin Fortune from St Peter’s College. Runners-up Faith Gardener, Laura Novikova, Rebekah Long from Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy; Third place and Best Report John Gilhooly, Peadar Byrne, Alex Denby and Martin Foley from St Peter’s College; Best Interview Declan Cullen and Eanna Doyle from St Mary’s CBS, Enniscorthy.
LCVP section: Winner Brandon Doran from Bunclody Vocational College; Runners-up and Best Report Alannah Anglim, Leanne Lacey, Simone Kemp, Chelsey Pitman, Meghan Grace Murphy and Jemma Dooley from Selskar College; third place Jade Williams and Lorraine Jordan from Bunclody Vocational College; Best Interview Hollie Cullen Fitzpatrick, Olivia Dempsey and Rachel O’Connor from St Mary’s, New Ross.
Environmental Category: Winners Ben Kidd and Sean Kirwin from FCJ Bunclody. Runners-up Ava Dempsey, Rachel Greene, Mackenzie O’Leary and Rebecca O’Sullivan from Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy.
Merit Awards: Niamh Kavanagh, Glenn McEvoy, Harry Ellix and Shay Hayes from Coláiste an Átha, Kilmuckridge; Casey Byrne and Stephen Ryan from Bunclody Vocational College; Katie Goldsmith, Amy Miller, Caitlin Reville and Kian Quirke from Coláiste Abbáin; Ava McDonald from Gorey Community School.
Social Contribution Awards: Sarah O’Connor, Brona Flynn, Theresa Peare, Ceira Sharpe, Laura Kelly Buckley, Lauren Jackson, Mark Delahunty, Colm O’Connell, Shantel Kennedy and Denis Taurosevicius from Enniscorthy Vocational College; Aisling Gouldson, Ava Grant and Ali Gunning from Loreto Wexford; Emer O’Doherty, Rosie McGuckian, Sarah Whelan and Eimear Wildes from Gorey Community School.
Best Display: Thomas Coleman and Conor Murphy from Coláiste Abbhain
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year: Margo Whelan, a teacher at Coláiste Bríde, Enniscorthy.