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Clever

Books AND gaming both have place with student entrepreneurs

Feeling down about the future of this country? These enterprising students give us a sense of hope…

THE WINNERS OF the Student Enterprise Awards show that the nation’s young entrepreneurs can happily imagine both the traditional and the technological take a place in their future.

The winners of the senior category had as their idea a fun game called ‘Squeazy’ – based on a classic science experiment – but also shortlisted in that category was a video gaming business called Social Gamers, which aimed to produce video gaming events. The winners in the intermediate category and junior category both had book ideas as their entrepreneurial bid – one is a science book, called Boom Book, which used materials you might find about the house; the other is the Chook Books, a series of books about keeping hens.

Read about some of the winning ideas and be inspired…

Seniors

1st place: Squeazy (supported by Leitrim County Enterprise Board).

Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

A quality game experience developed from the classic science experiment, ‘Cartesian Diver’.

Designed by Matthew Hewston, Fergus Munday and Luke Sheridan at St Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim.

2nd place: Sweet Tooth (supported by Wexford County Enterprise Board).

Succulent range of Irish handmade artisan chocolates.

From Joanna Murphy Sutton at Presentation Secondary School, Co Wexford.

3rd place: Social Gamers (supported by Kerry County Enterprise Board).

Production of video gaming events.

Idea by Marsell Fazilov, Davin Barrett and Imed Abnoun at CBS Tralee, Co Kerry.

Intermediate

1st place: The Boom Book (supported by Offaly County Enterprise Board).

Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Science experiment book for 5-12 year olds that uses materials found around the house.

From Shauna Bannon Ward and Samantha Brennan at Oaklands Community College, Edenderry, Co Offaly.

2nd place: Eco Style (supported by Dublin City Enterprise Board).

Eco-friendly personalised canvas bags.

Designed by Aine Murray and Kaitlin Murray at Our Lady of Mercy College, Dublin.

3rd place: Lil’ Shopper (supported by Cavan County Enterprise Board).

Whiteboard with velcro stick-on pictures that helps parents keep their children occupied while they shop, or as an aid to help children with disabilities to communicate.

Designed by Caoimhe Marie O’Reilly at Loreto College, Cavan.

Juniors

1st place: Chook Books (supported by Tipperary South Enterprise Board).

Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Series of books about keeping hens.

Designed by Andrew Butler and Martina O’Reilly at CBS High School, Clonmel.

2nd place: Comfort Crutch (supported by Fingal County Enterprise Board).

Cushion that makes crutches less painful on your hands.

Designed by Sean Capper at Skerries Community College.

3rd place: Tweetech (supported by Sligo County Enterprise Board).

Manufacture and sale of bird boxes with wireless inbuilt camera.

Designed by Paddy Bird (yes, really), James Devaney, Michael Donaghy, Callum O Domhnaill and Michael Kilcoyne, all from Sligo Grammar School.

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