Three Westmeath students honoured at event aimed at future engineers
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Kate Coyne, from Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan; Caoimhe Gavin, St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, and Maja Gogic, Mullingar Community College, receiving the inaugural Junior Certificate Engineering Recognition Award, sponsored by Technological University of the Shannon.Image 2 of 2
Students attending the Women in Engineering Event, hosted by the Department of Polymer and Mechanical Engineering, TUS.THREE Westmeath students who were awarded outstanding scores in engineering in their Junior Certificate exam, were honoured earlier this month at an event aimed at enticing more females to take up the subject at third level.
Kate Coyne, from Mercy Secondary School, Kilbeggan; Caoimhe Gavin, St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, and Maja Gogic, Mullingar Community College, received the inaugural Junior Certificate Engineering Recognition Award, sponsored by Technological University of the Shannon, at the university’s Athlone campus on Friday April 4.
This award celebrates their outstanding achievement in securing a distinction – the highest possible grade (90% or higher) – in junior cycle engineering and was part of the Women in Engineering Event, hosted by the Department of Polymer and Mechanical Engineering, TUS.
In all, 40 fifth and sixth-year students, all considering engineering as a college choice, attended.
The event highlighted the opportunities available in engineering and showcased the women making strides in the field. The event explored why fewer females choose traditionally male-dominated subjects in school. The students heard what employers require from engineers in today’s workplace.
Aoife Swords, a recent female TUS Mechanical Engineering graduate offered insights and real-world experiences, while Breda Lynch, head of Department of Polymer and Mechanical Engineering, TUS, addressing the students, said: ‘While women in engineering are in the minority, those who choose to study it generally do exceptionally well and that, together with their strong communication skills, is highly sought after by employers.”
Announcing the awards, Colette Breheny, a lecturer in the department, noted: “These three outstanding students have demonstrated exceptional skill, creativity, and commitment to engineering at an early stage in their academic journey.”
Presenting the students with their custom designed medals, Dr Seán Lyons, dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, TUS, added: “If we are to innovate and extend our engineering capabilities, we need to bring the widest range of perspectives into our discussions.”