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Some of the St Joseph’s Ballybunion students involved in ‘Ripbar’ which won the senior category in the County Final of the Kerry County Council Annual Student Enterprise Awards. From left; Conor McGrath, Niam Stack and Alanna Whelan. Photo by Dermot Crean
THERE were amazing ideas on show today at the IT Tralee for the County Final of the Kerry County Council Annual Student Enterprise Awards and it was students in north and mid-Kerry schools who scooped the top prizes.
The event saw 60 mini-businesses being set up by over 200 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.
Prizes were awarded at Junior, Intermediate and Senior level.
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The winners of the Senior Category was “RIP– BAR” from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion The winning team formulated a healthy nutritious food bar partly made from seaweed (TraleeToday.ie can confirm it tastes much better than it sounds!).
This is a unique yet topical current business building on demand for healthy eating and high energy returns using nutritious ingredients. Students include Conor McGrath, Lorna O’Leary, Tara O’Shea and Niamh Stack.
The winner of the Intermediate Category was the Irish Codaithe Competition from Killorglin Community College. This business specialises in supporting young coders and programmers through the organisation and delivery of events. The team consists of Timothy McGrath, Sarah O’Shea and Rebecca Coffey.
Junior level winners were a group from the Presentation Secondary School, Castleisland. This group designed an exclusive brand of scented and aromatic candles. The group consists of Grace Daly, Siobhan Brosnan, Lauren Butler and Cáit O’ Mahony.
Other prizes were awarded for Best Stand, Most Innovative Product, Most Enterprising Project and Best Business Plan.
St. Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney won the most Enterprising School Award for it’s work in fostering entrepreneurship within the school and was presented with the Cantillon Perpetual Cup.
The students progressed through the establishment of a mini company which trades over a period of a number 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.
The winners of the County Student Enterprise Awards in all categories go forward to the National Finals to be held in Croke Park on April 20. (we’ll have many more photos from the event tomorrow)
