Cut Cost Coupons from Carrigallen Vocational School won the special merit award at the National Finals last week (April 20^th) in the senior category. The student-run company that produced coupons to save local customers money while promoting local businesses and the winning students were: Adam Magee, Adrian Graham and Andrew Hamilton.

Co-ordinated by all 31 Local Enterprise Offices across the Local Authorities Network, the 14^th Annual Student Enterprise Awards National Final in Croke Park saw 201 student entrepreneurs from 69 schools showcase 76 different student enterprises, across Junior, Intermediate and Senior Categories.  A record-breaking 22,000 students from 620 schools took part in the programme this year.

Awards for Category Winners, Innovation, Best Display, Intellectual Property Awareness and Social Media were also presented during the ceremony, as part of the overall €10,000 prize fund.

Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise with the Local Enterprise Office Leitrim congratulated the award-winning student enterprise, saying: “The judges were very impressed with the students’ ability to identify a problem and develop a solution that has real commercial potential. The Student Enterprise Programme was set up to encourage more young people to start a business and to foster a more enterprising culture for start-ups. A record number of students and schools took part in this year’s programme, showing a growing interest in enterprise in the classroom.”

The Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation and T.D. for Meath East, Mr.  Damien English, presented the students with their award on stage , saying: “It is extremely encouraging to see the level of ingenuity and entrepreneurship in action throughout classrooms in Ireland today.  Through the Student Enterprise Awards, the Local Enterprise Offices are supporting more young people to develop practical business experience and it provides students with the opportunity to learn first-hand skills that are vital for securing future growth within the Irish economy.”

1. 'Amor Stirrup Guide' with their First Year project. The Intermediate Category, which is open to second and third year students, was won by ‘Inish Wood Working’ from Scoil Mhuire Buncrana from County Donegal for their hand-crafted giftware. The top prize in the Senior Category went to ‘Headphone Helpers’ from Coláiste Chraobh Abhann inWicklow, for a patent-pending band for earphones.

 The Social Media Awards were supported by Essential French and the Intellectual Property Awareness Awards were supported by the Irish Patents Office.

Twenty students with the highest marks in the Senior Category were also offered a place at the week-long ‘Winners Business Bootcamp’, which is running in University College Cork from May 30^th to June 4^th.

The 2016/2017 Student Enterprise Awards programme starts in September, with full details available at www.studententerprise.ie or by searching #studententerprise on social media.

ENDS

For all media queries, please contact your Local Enterprise Office

NOTES TO EDITOR

Event Information: Student Enterprise Awards (National Finals)

Co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices, the Student Enterprise Awards are now in their 14^th year. The official website address for the programme is www.studententerprise.ie

An estimated 22,000 secondary school students from 620 schools took part in the programme this year and every county is represented.

The Local Enterprise Offices aim to encourage enterprise culture among students in Ireland. Students usually qualify for the National Final through their School and County Final, through their Local Enterprise Office.

STUDENT ENTERPRISE AWARDS NATIONAL FINALS 2016

SENIOR CATEGORY

• First Place: Headphone Helpers, Colaiste      Chraobh Abhann Kilcoole in Wicklow.
• Second Place: Meachan, Colaiste Ris,      Dundalk, Co. Louth
• Third Place: Make a Mark, Jesus and Mary      Secondary School, Gortnor Abbey Co Mayo.
• Innovation Award: Caballis Equine Ltd,      Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore, Co Offaly.
• Best Display: Kitchen Kouture, Royal and      Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe Co. Donegal.
• Special Merit 1: Citosc, Maria Immaculuta      Community College, Dunmanway, West Cork.
• Special Merit 2: Ultimate Universal      Steriliser, Colaiste Phobal, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
• Special Merit 3: Cut Cost Coupons,      Carrigallen Vocational School, Co Leitrim.

INTERMEDIATE CATEGORY

• First Place: Inish Woodworking, Scoil      Mhuire Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
• Second Place: Pet Health Living, CBS      Wexford, Co. Wexford.
• Third Place: Shockets, Colaiste Chu      Chulainn, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
• Innovation Award: Farm Friendly Feeder,      Gallen Community School, Co. Offaly.
• Best Display: Centurions, Desmond      College, Co Limerick.

JUNIOR CATEGORY

• First Place:      Amor, St Oliver Post Primary School, Oldcastle, Co. Meath.
• Second Place:      Dainty Doors, St Dominic’s College, Cabra, Dublin City.
• Third Place:      The Boring Postcard Co, Dundalk Grammar School, Co Louth.

• Innovation      Award: The Claw Bag, Our Lady’s      Secondary School, Co Tipperary.                
• Best      Display: Genie, St Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville, North Cork.

IP Awards (sponsored by the Patents Office)

IP Award Junior Category

The Story of My Life, Ballyhaunis Community School, Co. Mayo.

IP Award Intermediate Category

Melting Moments, Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet Co. Mayo.

IP Award Senior Category

Kids Code, De La Salle College, Waterford

 Social Media Awards (sponsored by Essential French)

The Irish Codaithe Competition, Killorglin Community College, Kerry (Intermediate Category)

Light Bulb Ideas, St Leo’s College in Carlow (Senior Category)