Sligo BAGS National Final
Mercy College Sligo's Transition Year team with its Beautiful And Green (BAG) eco-friendly range of gift bags, is this year's winner of the Junior Achievement Company of the Year, announced by Dragon's Den panelist and entrepreneur, Sean Gallagher at Citi, Dublin.
Beating over 2,000 students from around Ireland, and very stiff competition from the other seven finalists, this year's winners – Leigh-Anne Waters, Aoife Keenan, Niamh O'Donnell, Claire Conlon and Ide McKenna proved themselves to be creative and astute entrepreneurs. The team now goes through to the Junior Achievement European Company of the Year final in Oslo.
"This was a very tough call for the judges. The teams were of such a high standard, I have no doubt each of the finalists has a very bright future as an entrepreneur," said Cathal O'Daly, Head of Financial Transactions GTS, Citi.
Cathal was joined on the judging panel by Aengus McClean, Managing Director, AOL Ireland and Carmel Halpin, Manager, Corporate Responsibility, Accenture.
Sean Gallagher spoke of how important it is to see oneself, not as a job description or career type, but as a unique set of skills, abilities and talents. This gives scope to explore a great variety of careers and opportunities. His inspirational outlook was encouraging not only to the students, but teachers, judges and organisers.
The other finalists, having come through the Regional Finals, sponsored by Chartered Accountants Ireland, were – Loreto College Cavan with Pic Ure Words; St Clare's College Cavan with Full Battery; Ardscoil Na Trionoide, Kildare, with Coasterz; CBS High School, Clonmel with Spiel Mit Worten, Salesian College Limerick, with Stranger Wise, Danger Wise; Patrician Secondary School, Kildare with Pop-a-Top and Mercy College, Sligo with Tech-no-logic.
The JA Company Programme is a hands-on business learning experience, where students operate and manage their own mini-companies. It provides numerous opportunities for the introduction, development and reinforcement of important academic and leadership skills. Each company is mentored by a business volunteer from a local supporting company who provides the students with hands-on experience, advice and expertise. The Company Competition is a national competition open to the regional winning teams from the JA Company Programme.
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