From astronaut training in NASA to experiencing the hustle and bustle of the European Parliament, the sky was the limit for almost 1500 students who entered this year's AIB Future Sparks Career Skills Competition by CareersPortal.
Close to 1500 students entered the competition this year and students could enter either in English or Irish through a written submission or Vlog entry.
The top six winners were:
- The Fáilte Ireland Award for Careers in Tourism and Hospitality – Sarah Dunne - Presentation Secondary School, Loughboy, Kilkenny – Waitress/Café Management.
- Transition Year – Aoibhín Collins, Coláiste Mhuire, Ennis – Florist and Midwifery.
- The Language Connect Award for Careers with a Foreign Language – Aoife McCann, Sacred Heart School, Sunnyside, Drogheda, Co. Louth – Restaurant Front of House & Interpreter.
- Irish Language – Ellie McMahon, Coláiste Oiriall, Monaghan – Architect/ Primary School Teacher.
- VLOG – Karthik Sreekanth, Rockbrook Park School Edmondstown Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 – Member of European Parliament/Journalism.
- Leaving Certificate (LCVP/LCA/LCE) – Annabel Bogue, Our Lady's Secondary School, Connabury, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan – TY Med Programme TCD/Obstetrician.
You can flick through the gallery up top to see the Top 6...
There 33 winning entries overall, and they were selected from an impressive shortlist that included a diverse range of occupations from across all sectors which saw students working in microbiology labs, food production sites, game design, primary schools, hair salons and hotels to students lucky enough to gain work experience in NASA learning how to become an astronaut and a student who secured a trip to Strasbourg to experience becoming a Member of the European Parliament!
The competition, which was open to all senior cycle students who have undertaken a work experience placement, was developed 14 years ago by Ireland's award-winning and leading career guidance website CareersPortal.
The competition encourages students to focus on the importance of career skills and understand the role these transferable skills can play in their future careers.
