St Mary’s team ‘buzzing’ after scooping title
‘BUZZY BANK’ PROJECT WINS SCHOOLS BANK COMPETITION
A TEAM of entrepreneurial students from St Mary’s Secondary School in Mallow have shown they have the acumen to go a long way in the banking business.
Their ‘Buzzy Bank’ project has scooped top spot in the annual AIB ‘Build A Bank Challenge’, securing the prestigious National Champions crown, and a cheque for a cool €5,000 for the school.
They were among 70 schools, including 13 others from Cork, to take part in the 18th edition of the competition. This involves a year-long programme that challenges TY and 5th years students to put their innovation, creativity and business management skills to the test by setting up their own ‘in-school’ bank.
As well as giving back to their school, teams are also encouraged to put together a project highlighting their engagement with their local community and charitable organisations.
The St Mary’s team impressed with their ‘Buzzy Bank’, choosing the theme of ‘Backing
Your Community’ as their specialism.
Normally, the competition culminates with a national final in Dublin, where teams showcasing their projects in front of a judging panel.
However, the COVID-19 restrictions meant the format had to be adapted this year, giving teams with the added challenge of presenting their projects remotely through video conferencing.
The Mallow students rose to the challenge, impressing the panel by highlighting how they had raised finds for their chosen charity Bumbleance, (the National Children’s Ambulance Service), their experience supporting the Nazareth Nursing Home and organising a talk in their school by the Irish Heart Foundation as part of the programme.
Over the course of the year the team also organised ‘Silver Surfer’ internet banking workshops and a Pilates class for senior citizens showing their commitment to ‘ backing the community’.
Two other cork schools walked away with prizes from the competition.
Maria Immaculata Community College won the ‘Judge’s Merit Award’, with Coláiste Pobail Naomh Mhuire awarded ‘Best Newcomer’ at the vidoe conference awards.
Mallow AIB branch manager, Sinead O’Connor, said she and her staff were thrilled to learn that the St Mary’s students had secured the top prize in this years competition.
“Our student officer Leanne Noonan loved working with the girls over the past number of months. Throughout the process they all showed consistent enthusiasm and commitment and are thoroughly deserving of this win,” said Sinead.