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BT has launched the 2013 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and is calling on students throughout the Newry area and beyond to enter their ideas and inventions by the 1st October 2012.
As part of the launch, BT has released research on trends in the projects entered over the past six years (2007-2012 exhibitions) to understand patterns in students’ thinking, how they make decisions and from where they draw their inspiration and subject matter. The extensive research undertaken by BT into over 3,000 qualified projects has revealed that participating students have dramatically evolved their ideas to reflect the constantly shifting economic, environmental and social landscapes across the island of Ireland over this period.
In the 2012 exhibition, 15% of qualified projects (more than one in every seven entered) demonstrated entrepreneurial flair coupled with honed business acumen – however, this figure rose to 30% of projects from Northern Ireland. These students fully understand the value of creating and owning entrepreneurial ideas. In stark contrast, six years ago, only 2% of projects could be considered commercially-viable.
The research findings analysed:
Colm O’Neill, Chief Executive, BT Ireland, said, “The island of Ireland has faced well-documented challenges in the past number of years, and it is inevitable and unfortunate that our young people will bear some of the burden as the future generation of leaders. But as evidenced by their participation in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, we have vast numbers of bright young people whose focus is on discovering solutions to our problems, on bettering the economy and society. As we count down to the 49th exhibition, I’d encourage all students to send in their ideas because we’ve proven that the exhibition can lead to brilliant opportunities for those that participate.”
MATRIX Chairman, Dr Bryan Keating reinforces why MATRIX is continuing to sponsor the Best Northern Ireland School Award at the exhibition, “MATRIX has a key role in advising on growing a knowledge based economy fit for the challenges of the global market. We recognise that if we are to compete effectively it is crucial that our young people have the science and innovation skills along with a passion to be the engineers and researchers of tomorrow.
“I am looking forward to seeing the projects that Northern Ireland will produce for the 2013 competition, and we are delighted to be able to encourage our emerging young innovators by sponsoring this award. It can only auger well for the future”
The University of Ulster will also continue to sponsor the Northern Ireland Special Award. Professor Richard Millar, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Engineering, University of Ulster said “We are committed to working with the BT Young Scientist to promote the benefits of investing in STEM activities for young people and raise awareness about the unlimited career opportunities in STEM related subjects. BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition enables students to show their potential and, for some, turn innovative ideas into commercial ventures. By challenging and engaging with young people, we can encourage uptake in science and technology related subjects at second and third level education, a key enabler to drive forward and build our knowledge based economy.”
At the launch announcement, BT encouraged students to begin preparing their projects for the 2013 exhibition. The closing date for entry is just over four months away - Monday 1st October 2012 - and BT is hoping to break a new record for entry numbers in 2013.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition will take place in the RDS, Dublin from January 9th – 12th 2013. There are over 120 awards including the overall BT Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year. In addition, BT offers over 30 participating students the opportunity to take part in the BT Young Scientist Business Bootcamp – an intensive innovation skills camp that BT runs after the exhibition to give students commercialisation skills.
The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is organised by BT Ireland, and is supported by a number of valued partners including Analog Devices, Intel, the NI Department of Education, the ROI Department of Education and Skills, and RTE. For more information on the exhibition, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com.
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Tasty Careers ambassador Moyra Rafferty from Irwin’s Bakery has attended St Mary’s High School in Newry to speak to Year 9 pupils about the wide variety of excellent career opportunities available within the food and drink manufacturing sector.
The campaign, which is in its second year has been launched by Improve, the Food and Drink Sector Skills Council and is supported by DARD. The Tasty Careers campaign provides talks from ambassadors in schools across Northern Ireland as well as informative booklets and a ‘teacher’s pack’ to highlight the 6,000 jobs available for skilled workers. To be recruited by 2017, these job opportunities equate to approximately one third of the current employment levels.
As the biggest single manufacturing industry in Northern Ireland, the food and drink sector employs over 19,000 full time employees. Examples of real life case studies included in the booklet will act as ambassadors across a range of job types and levels within the sector. Students will receive an insight into the ambassadors’ day-to-day activities and long-term career prospects as well as advice on the best qualifications and educational path to their current position within the sector.
Commenting on this year’s campaign launch, Geoff Lamb, NI Operations Manager, Improve, said: “The food and drink industry contributes in excess of £3 billion a year to the local economy and is a pivotal employer within the Northern Ireland market. In a time of great economic uncertainty, the sector provides significant job opportunities in a stable and growing industry.
“The ‘Tasty Careers’ campaign, which is supported by government bodies and key players within the industry, aims to highlight the opportunities available for pupils considering their career options and make them aware of the impending skills shortage and gaps within the market.
“With an average starting salary of £22,000 our ambassadors aim to make pupils aware of these career prospects and encourage uptake within the sector to continue to develop the skills and productivity of our workforce on a global stage.”
For more information or to book an ambassador, schools can visit www.tastycareers.org.uk
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The R.E. department in St. Mary’s High School is proudly celebrating the achievements of 8 year 14 pupils who have received the Pope John Paul 2 Award for voluntary work carried out in their parishes and local communities.
The award requires a total of 40 hours voluntary work and the girls received their awards at a special ceremony in Banbridge Parish Centre on 31st March 2012.
The girls who received the award are Ruth Breen, Denise Byrne, Judith McCartan, Clare Savage, Niamh Sands, Sheila Duffy, Claire Patterson and Rebecca Grant
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Most young people care deeply about environmental issues and wish to make a positive change in the environment around them. The Eco-Schools programme in St Mary’s High School provides an ideal way for fostering environmental awareness in the entire school in a way that links to many curriculum subjects. Our primary aim regarding the Eco-Schools scheme is to combine learning and action for the improvement of the environment not only in our school but in the wider community too.
We have just been awarded our first Green Flag in recognition of the hard work and dedication of our Eco-Committee but also of all our teachers, ancillary and auxiliary staff and all those connected to our school. Our primary focus has been on reducing our waste and litter around the school and we are particularly proud of the successes we have made in reducing our carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption. We have many more such projects plans in place for 2012/13.
Please visit our school website www.stmarysnewry.com and click on “Ecoschools” to view our many exciting projects.
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Saint Colman's College pupils certainly got their fair share of the Silverware from Newry Musical Feis with wins in the Woodwind Ensemble, String Quartet, Boys Solo, Plain song and Choir sections. One of the solo winners was Conor McGlone who came first in the Boys Solo class for those aged between 12 and 16.
The musical future of the College certainly looks in safe hands.
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Southern Regional College students stepped out in style on Friday night at the second annual Charity ‘Fresher Fashion Show' as part of Newry Style City Week.
The Show, which was hosted at SRC's Newry Campus, saw students, lecturers and local employers come together for a glittering occasion in aid of "Friends of Cancer Centre" and “Action Cancer”.
The audience were treated to goody bags with money off vouchers and numerous spot prizes as well as delicious refreshments prepared by the award winning Hospitality Department at the College.
Students modelled garments by Silk, Berling, Posh, Exhibit, Internacionale, Debenhams, Sharleen McCaffrey, River Island, DV8, Primark, New Look, Miss Selfridge, NV Gino, Jack Jones, Blue Inc, Quiz, Bloomin Bridal and an exciting array of creative designs from talented former SRC students.
Compere for the evening was Marietta Doran of RTE and Channel 4 fame where she’s a regular commentator on fashion at all the glamorous meetings in the horseracing calendar. Marietta has emerged as one of Ireland's hottest fashion stylists. Her fashion nous has also resulted in commissions from the Irish Independent newspaper's Weekender Magazine. Marietta was also a regular contributor to the RTE primetime fashion programme ‘Off the Rails’ where her style and expertise proved a huge hit with viewers.”
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Southern Regional College sent their largest ever team of 31 trainees to the recent two day Skillbuild Regional Finals event and returned with an unprecedented 17 awards.
The competition pits the best young talents in a range of construction trades against all of the other Regional Colleges and Training Organisations across Northern Ireland.
The Southern Regional College trainees picked up 14 skill area awards, The Skillbuild Best Young Apprentice Award, Skillbuild Chairpersons Cup (most competitors to qualify for the regional finals) and the DEL Cup (winners of the medals league table).
John Morgan from Newry who won gold in Floor and Wall Tiling was also awarded the prestigious Best Overall SkillBuild NI Apprentice.
Southern Regional College, Head of School of Construction and the Built Environment, Lindsay Bronte, said “This is an outstanding success for the SRC student and staff and it was great to see the students achieving this level of success. The standard of the competitions is clearly improving year on year. This success provides a great platform for the young people to go further and represent NI in the UK competitions later in the year and hopefully on the World Skills in Leipzig in 2013. This success will also gain them an edge in the very competitive jobs market.”
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Skill Area |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
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Cabinet Making |
Mindaugas Kriciala – (N) lives Newry |
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Electrical Installation |
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Conal Molloy (N) lives Castlewellan |
Kyle Nesbitt (P) lives Armagh |
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Industrial Heating |
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John Herron (N) |
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Joinery |
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William Megaw (N) lives Newry |
Alexander Gordon (N) lives Kilkeel |
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Lead Sheetwork |
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Neil Byrne (N)lives Newry |
Brendan McCusker (N) lives Newry |
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Plumbing Pipework |
Gary Doyle (N) lives Castlewellan |
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Shane Brannigan (N) lives Newry |
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Floor & Wall Tiling |
John Morgan (N) lives Newry |
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Painting & Decorating |
Ryan O’Gorman (N) lives Newry |
Jamie McEvoy (N) lives Newry |
Brendan Magee (N) lives Newry |
Key – Campus of Study (N) Newry, (P) Portadown
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Mark Mc Evoy (Dromara) a pupil at Saint Colman's College was awarded three major prizes at the Big Bang Fair held at the National Exhibition Centre Birmingham.
Mark’s route to success began in June 2011 at the Odyssey Arena Belfast when he won the Senior Engineering prize at the Northern Ireland Regional finals of the Young Engineers / Young Innovators competition with his AS Design and Technology Project the ‘Multi – Lift’.
The prize included the opportunity to compete at the National Science and Engineering Competition finals in the NEC Birmingham 2012 against the best young designers and engineers in the UK.
Mark’s product the ‘Multi – Lift’ was designed to be easily and quickly attached to the front loader of a tractor. Once fitted the operator can hydraulically control a jib with an offset hook to lift and position 500 KG bags of fertilizer without the need to leave the cab. The product is designed for use in an agricultural or construction environment and is extremely versatile enabling it to lift a variety of common loads.
Mark’s initial research into the problem highlighted the commercial potential of such a product. His design work was developed using CAD and the final prototype manufactured in the College Design and Technology workshop.
The ‘Multi- Lift’ has been constructed from heavy gauge box section mild steel incorporating reinforcement steel plate features manufactured using a plasma cutter.
The judges at the NEC were very impressed with the concept of the ‘Multi – Lift’ and in particular Mark’s ability to convey his ideas and demonstrate the final product in use with a DVD. Judges also remarked on the depth to which Mark researched into the forces and loadings the product is exposed to in use. Visitors to the exhibition commented on the impressive presentation of Mark’s display of design work and the high quality shop finish of the ‘Multi – Lift’.
At the award ceremony Mark was awarded the following prizes:
The Royal Academy of Engineering Senior 1st Prize, £500 and a visit to Imperial College London to see the latest advances in engineering techniques such as neuro imaging and materials science.
Runner up in the Senior Engineering stream of the National Science and Engineering Competition (second place in UK). Plus £700.
Young Engineers for Britain Award for Craftsmanship and £250.
JCB UK representatives at the awards also expressed an interest in Mark and the potential of the ‘Multi – Lift’ and will be in further discussion.
The Design and Technology department at St. Colman’s congratulated Mark on his achievement. This high standard of commitment and achievement continues to inspire students to study Design and Technology at the College.
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Celebrating 40 Years of Service to St Mary's A celebratory luncheon is held to congratulate Marion McAteer on 40 years service in St Mary's.
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