5th year Waterford students received a level 6 certificate from MTU

It was a day of celebration at Presentation Secondary School in Waterford as 5th-year students graduated from the STEM Passport for Inclusion Programme.

Each pupil was awarded a Level 6 certificate from Munster Technological University (MTU) for completing the ‘Introduction to 21st Century STEM Skills’ course.

In attendance at the event were tutor Stephen Gillic from Maynooth University, along with representatives and mentors from Sun Life: Donna Clements, Clodagh O'Mara, Sinéad Flynn, Nicola McGrath, Becky Troy, and Laura Vauls.

Also present was Phil Healy, Irish Olympian and Sun Life mentor. The ceremony was hosted by 5th-year students Kayleigh O'Sullivan and LK Tomenio.

The course included three days of coding workshops, team-building activities, and mentoring exercises with Sun Life employees.

Students completed a series of assignments to showcase their coding skills, one of which involved finding a technological solution to a modern-day problem using Python and MakeCode for micro:bit.

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One student remarked, "We were taught how to build and programme robots, make games, and even produce our own apps."

From robots designed to clean up rubbish to sustainable transport-tracking apps, the students at Presentation Secondary School in Waterford went above and beyond to secure their places in the future of technology.

Between November 2023 and February 2024, they dedicated themselves to the programme and have now proudly received their certificates from MTU.

Surrounded by friends, family, and their mentors from Sun Life, the students celebrated securing their first university qualification, marking an exciting step in their educational journeys.