St Catherine’s Vocational School claimed the coveted top prize at the DICE_TY Academy at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal.
Dearbhla Gillespie, Laura O’Donnell, Isobel Nielsen and Zoe Deane made up the winning team of four from the Killybegs school.
They came up with a phenomenal wearable personal-safety device which would give the wearer total peace of mind while out walking, running, or exercising.
“We are so fortunate to have participated in the DICE_TY Academy,” said Ms. Nicola Sharkey, TY Coordinator St. Catherine’s VS, Killybegs.
“Our 16 students gained a wealth of experience in team building, leadership, creativity and innovation.
“Teachers, Ms. Amanda Morrow, Ms Lucinda Boyce, myself, parents and students were so proud of our 4 teams & the 4 girls who won with Petal Power. We would love this opportunity again next year.
“We are very fortunate in St. Catherine’s to have such a dedicated group of students.”
Overall winners St Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs – Isobel, Dearbhla, Zoe and Laura receiving their prizes and certificates from Dr. Orla Flynn, ATU President and Cróna O’Donoghue, Lecturer in the Department of Design and Creative Media, co-coordinator of the DICE_TY Academy with Dr. Tena Patten.
DICE_TY Academy, now in its fourth year, brings together 100 Transition Year students from schools around Donegal.
The project, led by lecturers Crona O’Donoghue and Dr Tena Patten of the Department of Design and Creative Media DICE stands for Design, Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship and forms part of DICE Labs at ATU Donegal.
Second place went to Loreto Letterkenny Team, ‘Teamworx’ who designed an accessible toy car for children with mobility issues.
This year, the academy spanned five action-packed days where students explored the theme of POWER.
The five days consisted of workshops, activities, socialising, and presenting, which were run by experts from the Department of Design and Creative Media and local enterprises.
On the final day, the students were prompted to come up with brand new, novel concepts through Design Thinking, which enabled them to create a product, service, or experience that would enhance the power of a particular user group.
Third prize went to St. Eunan’s team, ‘Potentia’ for their proposed devise that would make treadmill use safe for the partially sighted, pictured here with judge Marta Sikora, Principal UX Designer with Optum Technology and ATU President Dr. Orla Flynn.
One of the organisers, Crona O’Donoghue says, “It is wonderful to be part of such a vibrant programme that celebrates the innovation, creativity and sensitivities of young people. Each year we are so impressed by the talent, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial solutions of the DICE Academicians, as are our partners, facilitators, and judges. We hope the experience and the skills they pick up through the DICE_TY Academy inspire them to continue to explore the POWER of design.”
Prototypes were developed and presented to the judges, with prizegiving taking place at the end of the day.
New ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn, was in Letterkenny specially to give out the prizes to the winners.
St Catherine’s took the top prize, with Loreto Letterkenny in second place, and St Eunan’s a close third.
Transition year students from Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town; Deele College, Raphoe; Loreto Convent, Letterkenny; St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny; St Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs and St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar participated this year.
For more information on DICE_TY Academy, please visit https://www.dicelabs.ie/dice-ty-academy/
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