Students Enterprise Award success for local schools
Entreprenurial students from Ratoath, Navan and Kells scoop prestigious prizes
Students from three Meath schools have taken prizes at the national final of this year’s Student Enterprise Programme, which were broadcast virtually from Croke Park with guests Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and athlete, Derval O’Rourke, hosted by RTE’s Rick O’Shea.
In the Senior Category, Rachel Conway and Mia Frawley, two students from Ratoath College, (teacher Gary Flanagan) were awarded the prize for Most Creative Use of Social Media for their business 'Wired Jewellery'. The students’ Tiktok video had over 700,000 thousand views.
Also, in the Senior Category, 'Easy Ex' a business which produces a visual aid for home-workers to help build exercise into their day won the Best Adaptability in the Covid 19 Era by students Oisin Craig, Joshua Keating, Sean McDermott and Carl Mc Govern from St Ciaran’s CS in Kells (teacher Peter Carry).
Andrew Harford, St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan (teacher Patrick Molony) won third place in the 'My Entrepreneurial Journey' Intermediate Category, wherer students were required them to map out the life of a successful entrepreneur and how that could be achieved.
Easy Ex produces a range of stickers which a home-worker places around the house to remind him/her to build exercise into their day. Each sticker features a different exercise and has a QR code which, when scanned, brings the user to a YouTube demonstration of how to do the exercise. A pack of seven stickers costs €4.99 plus postage and can be purchase on www.easyexstickers.com.
There were 72 student enterprises competing in this year’s National Final in what is Ireland’s largest entrepreneurship programme for second level students. The initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw 29,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country take part.
Joe English, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Meath said: “This is a proud day for student enterprise in Meath. We would like to congratulate the students, their families and their teachers at St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, Ratoath College and St Ciaran’s CS, Kells, on winning these national awards in Croke Park. We would also like to pay tribute to all the other finalists and participants from Meath who are impressive ambassadors for student enterprise in the county.”
Jackie Maguire, Chief Executive of Meath County Council said: "Huge congratulations must go to all the students involved and their teachers. We at Meath County Council are very proud of them. I would like to take this opportunity to remind all young, aspiring and existing entrepreneurs that the door of the Local Enterprise Office is always open should you wish to discuss your business needs and plans."