Shercock lad wins top award for photo business

Shercock student, Paul Smith (16), a student at Bailieboro Community School, was among the national winners in this year's Student Enterprise Awards. He took the top honours in the intermediate category for his project 'Paul's Pix'. For his business idea, Paul set up a commercial photography business and was rewarded for his efforts at the final in Croke Park last week. Paul was just one of almost 15,000 students from 400 secondary schools around the country who participated in the competition. This is not the first award that the Cavan Junior Cert student has won. Last year, he scooped the top award in the Astronomy Photographer of the Year awards for a shot he took 'Occultation of Venus'. The only son of J.J. and Geraldine Smith, Paul has a keen interest in both photography and astronomy. Teenagers from every county, aged from 13 to 18 years, competed at the national final of the Student Enterprise Awards in GAA headquarters, which was organised by the county and city enterprise boards. Speaking to The Anglo-Celt after his big win, Paul said he was delighted and very surprised. "I don't think we really expected it. We were kind of waiting and when they announced second and third, we were thinking, this doesn't look good. We just couldn't believe it when they read it out," said a modest Paul. He was joined at the national awards by his parents and his principal, Valerie McCormick and business teacher, Anne Murray-O'Neill. Paul explained that for the programme, he had to set up his own business and run it. As he enjoyed photography as a hobby, he decided it would be a good idea to combine the two. To market his service, Paul produced business cards, t-shirts, posters and flyers promoting his business Paul's Pix. He has also launched a website - www.paulspixphotography.com Currently studying for his junior cert, Paul's hopeful that when he gets his exams out of the way, he can focus on developing his new business. So enjoyable was the whole experience, Paul is now seriously thinking of photography as a career. And he says that the Student Enterprise Awards are a great scheme for giving students a real and practical insight into business affairs and how to run your own business. For Paul, it really brought subjects such as marketing and accounts to life and he believes that will be a big help to him in his junior cert business studies exam. Congratulating Paul on his achievement, Vincent Reynolds, CEO, Cavan County Enterprise Board said: "Paul's achievement is particularly noteworthy as it is the first time a Cavan project obtained national success in the Student Enterprise Awards. It is a magnificent achievement for Paul, his family, and the teaching staff at Bailieborough Community School. The professionalism and dedication displayed by somebody so young is to be admired. Paul is a beacon to his peers and his entrepreneurial flair and ability augers well for future indigenous enterprise development in Co. Cavan." The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe, together with one of Ireland's best-known entrepreneurs, Bill Cullen, were both clearly impressed with the standard of enterprise at this year's national final. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister O' Keeffe commented: "With nearly 15,000 students now involved in the student enterprise programme nationally, it's apparent that the spirit of enterprise has been well fostered in Irish classrooms. Thanks to the support of teachers, parents, principals and the local County and City Enterprise Boards, our student entrepreneurs here at the National Final are great ambassadors for the overall Student Enterprise Programme."