Latest news with #ValeriiaStepanenko
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘She has a great future' – Wexford student who did work experience with local TD wins national skills competition
The competition, which is run by CareersPortal, encourages Transition Year and Leaving Cert students who have completed work experience as part of their programmes to reflect on the skills which they have developed as well as exploring a future career. The competition, now in its 15th year, is a national event and had over 1,400 secondary school students take part this year. A number of RCS students entered the competition but just two, Colleen Waters (TY) and Valeriia Stepanenko (5th Year), were shortlisted for awards along with 27 students from other schools across the country. The ceremony began with Eimear Sinnott, CEO of CareersPortal, welcoming the students and also thanking them for their insight into the bright future with this generation enthusiastic young people. As part of the competition, the students had to write a diary evaluating their work experience, analysing skills they learned and improved on. They then had to conduct a career investigation into a career of their interest. Finally, they reflected on how the skills they learned during work experience could help them in their future career. Colleen received a highly commendable award in the Transition Year category, as she investigated a career in medicine after her work experience with RCSI Mini Med programme earlier this year, and she was awarded with a certificate and a Bluetooth speaker. Valeriia Stepanenko received the overall winner, ranking first place in the Leaving Certificate competition, as she investigated a career in diplomacy. Valeriia has huge interest in this area and completed her work experience with Wexford TD, George Lawlor, in the Dáil back in March. Valeriia was awarded a trophy and a MacBook Air laptop for first prize. The organisers of the competition commended her project, making a special mention on the fact of how her journey is a powerful example of the competition's impact on real-life aspirations. She was joined by her family in celebrating this momentous achievement at the awards ceremony. Accompanying the two students at the ceremony was the school's Guidance Councillor, Ms. Hayley Miller, who commented: 'It was a pleasure to have two students represent RCS at such a prestigious competition, we are so very proud.' 'It was a very proud moment for us as the girls worked exceptionally hard on finding work experience to suit their interests and got into the Dáil and St. Vincent's Hospital with RCSI because of their hard work and dedication. It was a pleasure to join them and see their work being celebrated on a national stage.' Deputy Lawlor, with whom Valeriia completed her work experience, could not attend the ceremony due to last minute Dáil commitments, however he said he is 'so delighted that Valeriia has received this recognition.' "Valeriia is a great young women with a great future ahead,' Deputy Lawlor added.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Shadowing politicians and sailing from the Netherlands to Dublin: winners of Careers Skills competition honoured
The annual competition, run by CareersPortal, is open to students who wish to explore a potential future career. The top 29 students were honoured at a ceremony at the Clock Tower in the Department of Education on Wednesday, alongside their families, teachers and guidance counsellors. Winners were chosen from nearly 1,400 entrants who explored a career and entries were made in English or Irish, either through a written submission or a vlog. Among the students honoured at the event was Valeriia Stepanenko, the first place winner in the Leaving Cert category. Valeriia, whose goal is to become a diplomat, arrived in Ireland from Ukraine in 2022 and has settled in Ramsgrange, Co Wexford. Fluent in English, Ukrainian and Russian, she volunteered with local enterprises and the county council before shadowing Labour Party TD, George Lawlor. "This competition continues to showcase the incredible talent, curiosity, and ambition of Ireland's young people. By exploring real-world careers and reflecting on the skills they've developed, students are not only planning for their futures — they're actively shaping them,' CareersPortal managing director, Eimear Sinnott, said at the event. The nearly 1,400 students who entered the Career Skills Competition explored more than 200 different careers from farming, horticulture and forestry to construction, architecture and property. Brendan Owens of Research Ireland and the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) Ireland, said: 'ESERO Ireland is proud to support this award to spotlight a student who brings to light the reality of a career in Space Science, Maths or Physics, busting stereotypes and uncovering the amazing opportunities that lie ahead of young people.' The winners in each of the competition's categories received MacBook Air laptops while second-place winners received iPads and third-place students received Apple Airpods. All commended students received prizes and four schools each received €1,000 to support their career guidance programmes. ADVERTISEMENT Organisers said there was a 'notable rise' in the level of interest in politics among the students who took part, while there was also growing interest in apprenticeships in trades like carpentry and engineering. Healthcare, including medicine and nursing, was also a popular choice. Teaching also remained popular but saw its interest drop compared to previous years.
