Eircom has launched this year’s search for Ireland’s young online innovators. The 2011 eircom Junior Spider Awards wants to recognise and reward primary and post-primary students for the pioneering and successful ways they use the internet in their day-to-day lives.
The awards are divided into primary and post-primary categories.
At primary level, The Mega Spiders contains the Best School Blog, Best Project and Best School Website categories.
Entries at post-primary level are split into two groups: The Giga Spiders for first to third-year students, and the Tera Spiders for fourth to sixth-year students. Both age groups have the same award categories, including Best Web App, Best Web Design and an award for a site in Irish called Suiomh is Fearr. The Grand Prix award is also up for grabs, and that will go to the overall winner in the Mega Spiders, Giga Spiders and Tera Spiders categories.
“Eircom is delighted to sponsor the Junior Spider Awards again this year. Promoting innovation in technology is very important and involving young people is crucial. Over the last few years, the awards have been a huge success with students across the country taking part and showcasing their fantastic ideas,” said Carolan Lennon, Eircom chief commercial officer and chairperson of this year’s judging panel.
“With such a high standard of entries, the judges have had a hard task deciding on previous years’ winners. I am looking forward to an even higher standard this year. It is terrific to see such enthusiasm and creativity from the students. Supporting innovation in technology is a high priority for Eircom.”
Details on how to enter the 2011 eircom Junior Spider Awards is available online. The closing date for entries is Tuesday, 1 November 2011. The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 13 December at the Helix, DCU.
Photo: Sixth-class students Louis Maxwell and Cian Wisdom make waves with 2010 eircom Junior Spider Award winner Cliodhna Sweeney, a fifth-year student at Muckross Park College, Donnybrook, Dublin