Students at St. Oliver’s Community College have done themselves and their teachers proud in various national competitions lately.

Fifth year students Hollie Taaffe, Jemma Winters, and Aoife Lawlor achieved success at the BT Young Scientist Exhibition last week. From 1,800 projects submitted, there’s was one of only 500 chosen to go on display at the RDS. 

Their project is designed to help wheelchair users store commonly used items such as mobile phones, bank cards, and pens in a convenient and accessible location on their wheelchair, and devices clip onto the existing structure of a wheelchair.  

The group members were aware of the problem as one of them has a wheelchair user in her family. The device is also intended to be a downloadable file that any person with a 3D printer can obtain and print in their desired colour. A huge thank you to teacher Mr. Donnelly for his work with the group. 

The judges were very impressed with their project and all of the visiting VIPs, members of the public, and of course, their family and friends got to see the hard work and passion the girls had for this project. This won't be the last we see of this idea. 

Agriculture

St Oliver’s CC TY Millmount students Caoimhe Brady, Ciara Wall, Kim Carter, and Zoe Donnelly are representing the school in the Certified Angus Beef competition, where they are hoping to win five Irish Angus calves.

They have progressed to the second round of the competition, an interview with delegates of ABP, Keepak, and The Irish Angus Group which was scheduled for Tuesday 17^th January in Athlone. 

Environmental Innovators

St Oliver’s CC TY Millmount students Rachel McCloskey, Emily Reilly, Jack Doran, and Oran Murray have been selected as one of the top five groups in the country taking part in the AgriAware Environmental Innovators Competition. 

The group submitted a video detailing how they would reduce food waste in the school and the wider community. The students will now attend a full-day Peer Day at BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Centre at UCD on Tuesday 31^st January. 

The students will meet the other finalists and representatives of stakeholder groups who will select the overall competition winners. 

Here's their video: