A teenage entrepreneur from Waterford City and his company “Upright Cycle Stands” has been awarded first prize at the 12th annual County and City Enterprise Boards Student Enterprise Awards National Finals at Croke Park. Cathal Daly (16) of “Upright Cycle Stands” from De la Salle College, Waterford City won the Senior Category of the Student Enterprise Awards.
In the Intermediate Category, which features Second and Third year students, Leah Barry (14), Áine Upton (14) and Muireann Ní Tobin (15) of “Teacher’s P.E.T.” from Gaelcholáiste Uí Chonba, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick took top prize while the Junior Category overall prize went to Emma McCabe (14), Zoe Maguire (13), Edel Campbell (13) and Ricardas Cepanauskas (14) of “Sheep Watch” from St. Oliver Post Primary School, Oldcastle, Co. Meath.
In the Junior Category the runners-up in second place were “Bored Games” from St. Clare’s Comprehensive, Co. Leitrim with “Ballyroan Bakers Cookbook” from Colaiste Eanna, Co. Dublin, taking third place. The Innovation Award went to “Emerscreamers” from Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary; “Zeet Argan” from Donabate Community School in Fingal, Co. Dublin won the Best Display Award; and the Social Media Award went to “Sheep Watch” from St. Oliver Post Primary School in Oldcastle, Co. Meath.
“Shortn’it” from Loreto College, Co. Cavan won second prize in the Intermediate Category, while the third prize went to “Recineration” from Patrician High School, Co. Monaghan. “Connect Shade” from St. Gerard’s College, Bray, Co. Wicklow won the Innovation Award; “Blissful Bites” from St. Clare’s Comprehensive, Co. Leitrim won the Best Display Award; and the Social Media Award went to “3T Tairgi” from Colaiste Pobal Osraí, Co. Kilkenny.
Runners-up in the Senior Category included: “My Little Big Adventure” from Beara Community School, West Cork who took second place and “Steindesign” from Castleisland Community College, Co. Kerry taking third place. The Innovation Award went to “The Moss Muncher” from St. Macartan’s College, Co. Monaghan, while the Best Display Award went to “Interactive Arts” from Blackrock College, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown; “Pink and Smokey” from Newbridge College, Co. Kildare won the Social Media Award.
In the Senior Category, the Judges Merit Award One went to “Principal Apps” from Colaiste Chiarain, Croom, Co. Limerick and “Brace Yourself” from Mercy College, Co. Sligo took the Judges Merit Award Two.
Organised by the County and City Enterprise Boards, a record-breaking 17,000 students from 370 schools have researched, set-up and managed their real-life businesses, as part of the biggest student enterprise programme in the country. Through their involvement, students are learning important business skills, gaining real-world experience and developing their commercial instincts.
Judging of the awards centres on key business areas, including: business planning, market research, sales and marketing, financial management, innovation and enterprise. The Senior Category Award winner receives an International enterprise education study visit to Lisbon as part of the prize.
Vincent Reynolds, Chairperson, Network of County & City Enterprise Boards, presented prizes to the twenty winning enterprises at the award ceremony this afternoon, saying: “The Student Enterprise Awards programme is committed to supporting student micro-enterprises in developing their ideas, creating new concepts and growing their businesses. For over 12 years, the network of County and City Enterprise Boards has fostered an enterprise culture among students in Ireland and the newly established Local Enterprise Offices will carry on this drive for enterprise; encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship from an early age.”
The top 20 students at senior level at the National Finals will be offered the opportunity to attend a Business Bootcamp, organised by the County and City Enterprise Boards, which will take place at the art Nexus Innovation Centre at the University of Limerick. The four day course will feature a range of interactive enterprise workshops and the students will also get to work closely with members of the Nexus community of entrepreneurs.
Loman O’Byrne, Chair of the Enterprise Education Committee with the County and City Enterprise Boards, said: “Nurturing and promoting student entrepreneurship in schools today will help provide a valuable resource of creativity and inspiration for the sustainable businesses of tomorrow. The variety of original concepts and products at today’s event, showcase the ability of Irish students and the exciting opportunities that are ahead of these entrepreneurs in generating business both at home and abroad.”
In 2013, Fergus Munday, Matthew Hewston and Luke Sheridan of St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, County Leitrim were the Senior Category winners. Their company, “Squeazy”, creates and sells a fun and frustrating toy, based on a classic science experiment (the Cartesian diver), and since winning they have sold over 3,000 units of their branded science game.
The 2014/2015 programme starts in September, with full details available at www.studententerprise.ie.
Student Enterprise Awards (National Finals) Co-ordinated by the County and City Enterprise Boards, the Student Enterprise Awards are now in their 12th year. An estimated 17,000 secondary school students from 370 schools have taken part in the programme this year and every county is represented. As part of its remit, the County and City Enterprise Boards aim to foster an enterprise culture among students in Ireland. Students usually qualify for the National Final through their School or County Final, through their local County and City Enterprise Board.
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List of Overall Winners (Senior, Intermediate and Junior Categories):
Senior Category First Place (Senior Category) Winning Business: “Upright Cycle Stands” (Supported by Waterford City Enterprise Board)
Description: Hardwood cycle stands for bicycles with clipless pedals that hold the bicycle by the pedal so it does not touch the frame or rims of the bicycle.
School: De la Salle College, Waterford City
Students: Cathal Daly
Teacher: Declan O Brien
Intermediate Category First Place (Intermediate Category) Winning Business: “Teacher’s P.E.T.” (Supported by Limerick County Enterprise Board)
Description: A multipurpose whiteboard aid for teachers.
School: Gaelcholáiste Uí Chonba, Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick
Students: Leah Barry, Áine Upton and Muireann Ní Tobin
Teacher: Donal Enright
Junior Category First Place (Junior Category) Winning Business: “Sheep Watch” (supported by Meath County Enterprise Board)
Description: A sheep pulse rate collar with text alert to farmer.
School: St. Oliver Post Primary School, Oldcastle, Co. Meath
Students: Emma McCabe, Zoe Maguire, Edel Campbell and Ricardas Cepanauskas
Teacher: Ciara McConnell