A BSc Hons in Agricultural Science student at SETU has been named a runner-up in this year’s Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards.
Yvonne Leahy, who studies at the Department of Land Sciences at SETU’s Cork Road Campus in Waterford, received a merit award and a prize of €1,500 for her innovative product ‘The Calf Catcher’. The product has been developed to address the challenges of managing and nurturing calves safely and efficiently.
This year, Enterprise Ireland received over 1,000 entries to the competition from full-time third-level students from all over the country. Yvonne was the only representative from SETU among the 10 finalists at the award ceremony, which was held at University College Cork (UCC) earlier this month.
“The Department... prides itself on encouraging entrepreneurial thinking and rural innovation within our student cohort."
Eleanor Kent Head of the Department of Land Sciences, SETU
Rural entrepreneurship module
Yvonne from Co Limerick developed her business idea as part of the rural entrepreneurship module on the BSc Hons in Agricultural Science degree. She was mentored by Rachel O’Dowd, Lecturer in Agricultural Marketing and Rural Entrepreneurship at the Department of Land Sciences.
Eleanor Kent, Head of the Department of Land Sciences congratulated Yvonne on her incredible achievement, saying, “The Department of Land Sciences prides itself on encouraging entrepreneurial thinking and rural innovation within our student cohort and Yvonne has been a wonderful ambassador for the University this year.”
High calibre
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Michael Carey, Chairman, Enterprise Ireland, said: “The high calibre of applications in [the] final highlights the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit within Ireland’s third-level institutes nationwide. The innovative solutions these young entrepreneurs have developed are impressive, and I am encouraged by their pioneering spirit and determination to develop products and services with a positive impact on our society.”
Richard Murphy, Manager, LEO Support, Policy & Co-ordination Unit, Enterprise Ireland added: “For over 40 years, The Student Entrepreneur Awards has provided third-level students with an important opportunity to explore the feasibility of their business concepts and to receive guidance from experienced mentors to turn their business idea into reality.
Developing the next generation of Irish entrepreneurs is a priority for us at Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, and this competition marks a significant milestone for students who are pursuing their entrepreneurial ambitions with the guidance and support of their academic institutions.”
Image: : Yvonne Leahy, BSc Hons in Agricultural Science at SETU’s Cork Road Campus in Waterford pictured receiving her merit award from Richard Murphy, Manager Local Enterprise Offices Support, Policy & Co-ordination Unit, Enterprise Ireland at the Enterprise Ireland Student Entrepreneur Awards Finals in UCC, Cork. Photo credit: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce.
