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Aaron Duffy a Southern Regional College student has been announced as one of the five exceptional young chefs from across the UK who have made the grade for the Craft Guild of Chefs Graduate Awards recently held at the Lancaster Hotel in London.
Aaron from Beragh studied Foundation Degree Culinary Arts at Newry Campus and is Sous Chef at Grants Restaurant in Omagh.
The awards were launched in 2003 and are overseen by Paul Gayler MBE, chairman of examiners. The Graduate Awards formally recognise a young chef’s culinary excellence and test their knowledge in classical and modern skills and techniques in a series of culinary challenges in a pressured environment. This prestigious award is not only a formal recognition of a young working chef’s culinary excellence but is also an excellent accolade for the college and their mentor.
Having made it through the initial selection process based on a written entry and mentor’s reference, Aaron competed in the semi-finals in Sheffield College. He progressed through to the finals held at University College Birmingham in August 2015. Some of the UK’s leading chefs put the finalists through their paces testing their knowledge and practical ability which included a written exam, practical skills in butchery and fishmongery, mystery basket for a main course meal, classical dish and preparation of pastry dish. Finalists were required to achieve a mark of 85% to join an elite list of only 48 graduates out of 620 entrants since the commencement of the awards 12 years ago.
Awards co-ordinator Steve Munkley, executive head chef of the Royal Garden hotel in Kensington and vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, who presented the chefs with their certificates at a cocktail presentation evening at the Lancaster London, said “Each chef demonstrated great skills, as well as an understanding of what made great food. Every year, I’m truly amazed at the talent we are producing in the UK and this year’s graduates epitomise this perfectly, showing expertise beyond their years in the butchery and fishmongery tests, mystery basket challenge and creation of a classic main and dessert in the final exam.”
The awards ceremony which was attended by hospitality professionals from across the UK and Ireland culminated with an additional award for SRC and college mentor Barry Smyth who received the ‘Excellence in Education’ award for the high level training, mentoring and support for Aaron during the graduate Award process.
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Friday night saw the Southern Regional College’s Higher Education graduates celebrate their success with family, friends and College staff at the annual Graduation Ceremony in Armagh City Hotel.
Nearly 700 graduates were conferred with foundation degrees, higher level diplomas and professional qualifications from a range of courses delivered at the College’s Armagh, Banbridge, Newry, Lurgan and Portadown Campuses. Honours Degrees delivered in conjunction with Ulster University and John Moore’s University Liverpool were also conferred in Business Studies, Accounting and Creative Imaging.
Mr Brian Doran, Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, welcomed the graduates and their family and friends and paid tribute to the work of College staff for providing an excellent learning experience for graduates.
Mr Doran stated “It is an honour to see you all here today, especially those of you for whom this rite of passage represents the culmination of several years’ of hard work and application. Your presence here today demonstrates the important role that the Southern Regional College plays in diversifying the higher education system.” Mr Doran continued “The Southern Regional College remains committed to providing everyone, irrespective of their background, with an equal opportunity to avail of higher education opportunities.”
SRC was privileged to welcome Mr Kevin McEnoy from BT to present the BT Award for Excellence in Blended Learning. The BT Prize of an HP Tablet was awarded to Dominic Burke who studied the HNC Diploma in Mechanical Engineering on the Portadown Campus.
Student of the Year Awards were presented by the Chairman of the Governing Body, Mr Andrew Sanders to both full-time and part-time Higher Education students who had excelled in their studies.
Guest speaker at the graduation ceremony was Mrs Mary McCall. Mary is the Founder and Managing Director of one of Ireland’s fastest growing online consumer brands, TreatTicket.com. Mary inspired the students with her entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive in the competitive online market place.
Lorna Browne who studied the HND in Health and Social Care spoke on behalf of the “Class of 2015”. Lorna commented “I also would like to thank my lecturers. To have a team with your combined knowledge, experiences and unlimited patience, has been immeasurable. To have someone you respect not only as a teacher, but also as a person, display a belief in your capabilities and support you when things are getting so tough it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, is everything. When I graduate from Queens with my degree in Social Work, I will be thinking of you all…how you inspired and supported me and how you believed in me…for all of this, I thank you.”
The College has over 40 different higher level courses including Higher Nationals, Foundation Degrees and Honours Degrees in a wide range of subject areas including; Creative Imaging, Computing, Construction, Engineering, English and History, Hospitality, Health Care, Multimedia, Tourism and Sports Science. SRC is also delighted to be offering Higher Level Apprenticeships. The College has partnered with global pharmaceutical company, Norbrook to establish the Applied Industrial Science Higher Level Apprenticeship. The Higher Level Apprenticeship programme in Accountancy has also been introduced in partnership with leading Accountancy firms.
If you are interested in joining the Higher Education community of learners at Southern Regional College contact 0300 123 1223 or visit www.src.ac.uk
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Ten local schools have received their first green flags this year taking the total number of schools throughout the district proudly flying the Green Flag to 44.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Naomi Bailie, welcomed local schools to the Council Chamber in the Downpatrick Office for the annual presentation of Green Flags.
Councillor Baillie speaking to the teachers and pupils attending the presentation ceremony said, “This is a tremendous achievement. The Green Flag award is internationally recognised and only obtained by those schools who have reached the highest of environmental standards.”
“Well done to all the staff and pupils whose hard work has resulted in these awards. A special word of congratulations to the members of the Eco Committees present here today. You have taken the lead by making sure that your school cares about the environment.” she added.
Ruth Van Ry, Eco Schools Project Officer, who attended the reception said, “I am delighted to see the continued success of the Eco Schools programme in the new Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area. Local councils play an important role in encouraging schools to take part in the Programme and the hard work is there for all to see in Newry, Mourne and Down. All schools in the District are registered with the Programme and every year more new schools are successful in achieving the top award of the green flag.”
For further details of the Eco Schools programme visit www.eco-schoolsni.org.uk
Schools receiving their first Green Flag
ACADEMY PRIMARY SCHOOL. Ballynahinch
CORTAMLET PRIMARY SCHOOL, Altnamackin
DOWN HIGH SCHOOL, Downpatrick
DROMORE ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL, Warrenpoint*
MULLAGLASS PRIMARY SCHOOL, Newry*
ST MALACHY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, Camlough
ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, Ballynahinch
ST PATRICK’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, Drumgreenagh
ST RONAN’s PRIMARY SCHOOL, Newry
ST TERESA’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, Tullyherron
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A cheque for £3,000 has been presented to Charlie Davis, Chairman of Autism NI (Newry Branch) from St Joseph’s Boys’ HS, after year 10 pupils won a Youth Philanthropy Initiative competition to showcase the positive impact generated through local charities.
Brendan Fearon (LLW HOD) paid tribute to the hard work of all the pupils involved in the Local & Global Citizenship project and thanked teacher Mrs McGuigan for helping to raise the profile of many local charities in the course of the research.
Commenting on the presentation MR Fearon said "St Joseph’s is a school working at the heart of our community and we are privileged to be able to support the phenomenal work of Autism NI through partnership with YPI Northern Ireland and as a result of the commitment and enthusiasm of pupils and staff"
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As part of Bike Week Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Health & Wellbeing Department organised free bike skills training for four local primary schools in the District. Pupils from St Ronan's Primary School Newry, Cortamlet Primary School, Newtownhamilton, St Joseph's Primary School Killough and Annsborough Integrated Primary School, Castlewellan took part in the training which was provided by Lisburn based company Tricycle.
Pupils learned how to check their bike for road worthiness, carry out helmet and clothing checks and were given some basic bike handling skills. The training was a certified course ‘National Standards of Cycle Training Level 1’. All pupils received a certificate on completing the training and each school was presented with a complementary bike stand.
The initiative, supported by Travelwise NI, is part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to promote the use of more sustainable ways of travelling around the district.
Chairperson Councillor Naomi Bailie and Vice Chairperson Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick took time out of their busy schedules to attend some of the training sessions.
Chairperson Baillie said she was “delighted to support Bike Week as it plays an important role in helping people rethink their everyday journeys and encouraging them to switch to cycling as a cheap, quick, sustainable and fun way to get around”.
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All of the year 10 pupils at St Joseph’s Boys’ HS have been taking part in an active learning programme as part of their Citizenship studies this term.
In partnership with Youth Philanthropy Initiative NI, they interviewed and researched key information about local charities to find out about the work that takes place and beneficiaries involved.
The final presentation took place in front of all the year 10 pupils, staff and invited guests involving the following charities: Children’s Cancer Trust, Autism NI, SVDP and the British Heart Foundation.
As one of the judges on the panel, Mr Brendan Fearon (LLW HOD) commended each and every pupil who made such a positive contribution over the past few months of research by gaining extra awareness of local charities and promoting the good causes so positively in the competition process. He further thanked Mrs Melisa McGuigan for her diligent work in overseeing the project, Mrs Sharon Byrne for facilitating the final as well as Lauren Lambert from the YPI who helped ensure that such an impressive donation was made possible for the winning charity.
An exceptionally high standard of delivery was given by all of the finalist groups, but the winning team – Tiarnan Ferns, Cailin Lennon, Allwyn Bino, Glenn Murray and Adam Harte, who represented Autism NI. Mrs McGuigan, who was responsible for delivering the project, was delighted to present a cheque for £3,000 to the winning team who will be giving it to Autism NI very shortly.
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KS3 pupils at St Joseph's Boys High School recently took part in a 'Local History' competition at the school with a wide variety of topics discussed.
The pupils had to independently research personal links to important events in local history.
The winning pupil, Tiarnan Holmes, was selected because of the high standard of work produced in detailing his family connections to the local man who was responsible for introducing the penalty kick into the game of football in the Milford area of Armagh!
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Southern Regional College Lecturer Jill Magennis has been nominated as the People’s Choice for Nothern Ireland in the City and Guild’s Lion Awards. Jill is up against 6 other candidates from other areas of the UK for this award. Jill has already been awarded the City & Guilds Medal of Excellence in the Children’s sector and today will be at St James’s Palace in London for the Presentation of Livery Company Prizes by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, President of the City & Guilds of London Institute. Jill is from Portadown and teaches Childcare at the Newry SRC Campus.
Please use the following link to vote for Jill: http://bit.ly/lionawards Please note it is one vote, per person, per day and voting closes midnight on 12 June. The winner of the National People’s Choice award will be announced at the Lion Awards 2015 which will take place at a secret location on 17 June 2015.
SRC would like to congratulate Jill on her recent success and with your help hopefully she can win the People’s Choice award too! So please get voting!!
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Pupils from St Joseph's Boys High School have presented a cheque for £1,350 to Fr Tony Corr (on behalf of Trócaire)
The money was collected through a series of fundraising activities. Fr Corr thanked the staff and pupils involved for their fantastic efforts and explained that this money would certainly make a life changing difference for many less fortunate people in the developing countries who are so badly affected by poverty.
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