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Mercy Mounthawk students Darragh O’Callaghan and Paddy Lane with, seated, Sean Corkery, Steven Conway, Grace Hamilton, and Jack Costello with their ‘Jersey Drop’ business at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE County Final of the Kerry County Council Annual Student Enterprise Awards was held on Tuesday at MTU Tralee.
Outstanding participation levels saw 22 mini-businesses being set up by over 120 second level school students involved in the competition.
The competition promotes business idea development, structure, sourcing of finance, marketing/sales and the presentation of a formal business plan.
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The students progressed through the establishment of a mini company which trades over a period of months. An exciting and rewarding programme, students get to experience the realities of entrepreneurship from developing a business idea to producing a product, researching the market, promoting the business, managing the books and generating profits.
Prizes were awarded at Junior, Intermediate and Senior level. The winners of the County Student Enterprise Awards in all categories will go forward to the National Finals to be held in Croke Park on May 5.
The winner of the Senior Category was Bright Minds, a company was set up by David Peskett & Shauna O’Keeffe from Castleisland Community College. Also pictured Baola Kennedy MTU mentor for Schools , Tomás Hayes, Head of Local Enterprise Office , Teacher Laura Leahy. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
The winner of the Senior Category was ‘Bright Mind’ – an app that allows students to communicate confidentially with teachers. This company was set up by David Peskett and Shauna O’Keeffe from Castleisland Community College.
The winner of the Intermediate Category was Modern Posture – a lightweight mobile phone stand and was set up by Aisha Pabon, Grace McGovern, Niamh O’Donnell and Aoibhínn Walsh from Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland.
Presentation Castleisland students Aoibhínn Walsh, Niamh O’Donnell, Aisha Pabon and Grace McGovern with their Modern Posture company at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
The Junior level winner was Clochaí Creasta – positive pebbles set up by Emma Horgan, Ellie Horgan, Blaithin Rahilly and Laoise McSweeney from Castleisland Community College.
Other prizes were awarded for Best Stand, Innovation Award, Best Business Plan, Environmental Awareness and Duaiseanna Gaeilge. The Smart Ideas winners were Eco Cars of Presentation Tralee, and Bag Brace of CBS Tralee.
Edward Clarke from Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland won the coveted award for Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year and Presentation Secondary School Listowel won the Best Newcomer School award.
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My Entrepreneurial Journey Junior Category was won by Sean Landers from Intermediate School Killorglin –with his business Eco Sprout – biodegradable seed starter pots.
Tomás Hayes, Head of Local Enterprise Office said; “I am pleased to see the level of innovation, resourcefulness, planning and development of all 22 projects in this year’s awards. 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 the mentors for their support. The judges had a very difficult task!”
Margaret Murphy, Kerry Programme Coordinator emphasised “This was a very strong programme in 2023 requiring extensive work by teachers, mentors and staff. The results are evident with three category winners which will be taking part in The National Final in Croke Park on 5 May 2023. We hope that we can win another award for Kerry following our great success in 2022.” Scroll down for photos…
Presentation Tralee students Grace Kirby and April Rosa Kennedy with their ‘Eco Car’ company which won the Smart Idea award at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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CBS Tralee student William Somers with his W.S Restoring company at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
Presentation Castleisland students Frankie Maguire, Millie Hughes and Molly Moran with their ‘Fold Em Goals’ company at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Presentation Castleisland students Muireann Hickey, Nell Hartnett, Ella Greaney and Leah Griffin with their ‘Pen Locket’ company at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
CBS Tralee student Clark Steward with his Bag Brace idea which won a Smart Idea award at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Mean Scoil Nua Leigh Truigh students Kyra Henderson Sixsmith and Patrick Harrington Stack with their ‘Nelly To The Rescue’ company at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
CBS Tralee students Darragh Corridon and Christopher Ross with their Medal Holders business at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Presentation Castleisland students Jasmine O’Sullivan, Colene O’Callaghan, Amber Foley, Bláthín McBride with their ‘Healthy Heat’ business at the Student Enterprise Awards at the MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Dermot Crean
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