Safety calving gate wins Offaly Student Enterprise Awards
A calving gate that provides a safe environment for vets performing Caesarean sections on cows has come up trumps at this year's Offaly County Enterprise Board Student Enterprise Awards.
The project by Banagher College Colaiste na Sionna students Katie O'Connor and Carolina Rodriguez under the company name Kalina was revealed winner of the competition's senior category at an awards ceremony in the Tullamore Court Hotel today (Thursday).
Winner in the intermediate category at the awards was ‘Boom Books' - science experiment books for primary school students by Edenderry students Shauna Bannon Ward and Samantha Brennan. Runner-up in the senior category and winner of a special students award prize went to Conor Lynch Woodturning from Tullamore College. Runner-up in the intermediate category was Crafty Giftz from St Brendan's Community School in Birr.
Speaking of winners Kalina Offaly County Enterprise Board's Geraldine Beirne said the students were inspired with the idea when on work experience in transition year. “It was clear from speaking with the students that they put a huge amount of time and effort into the business,†she said, adding that “this hard work paid off for the students in the endâ€.
This year a total of 26 businesses from eight schools and over 80 students reached the county finals of the enterprise awards. As well as sharing a prize fund of over €2,500 the winner of each category also received a perpetual trophy. Every student involved also got a certificate to mark their participation in the competition. Winners will now go on to a national final, which takes place in Croke Park on April 17.
The National Student Enterprise Awards Programme, which is run by County and City Enterprise Boards, offers second level students the opportunity to take a business from the idea stage through to market research and production, selling their product, keeping records and finally writing a report on their activities. Activities are supported hugely by teachers, and a special teachers' prize draw yesterday saw John Kennedy from St Brendan's and Trisha Hynes from Oaklands Community College win gift vouchers.
On behalf of organisers, Ms Beirne thanked teachers today for the support and commitment that allows the student enterprise awards to take place. She also thanked judges Peter Sullivan of Byrne Casey and Associates and Pauline Hoctor of Offaly Local Development Company as well as Offaly County Enterprise Board staff and the students involved in the competition.