Cork student scores national award for wearable panic attack tech project

SCOIL Mhuire Kanturk student Lisa Finn has achieved the second-highest national result in Leaving Certificate Technology Higher Level 2019 with a project focused on helping people who suffer from panic attacks.

Lisa will receive an award from the Techno Teachers Association on March 7 in Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

As part of her Leaving Certificate technology assessment, Lisa designed and made a prototype of wearable technology for people who suffer from panic attacks. Her project was designed and made using Computer Aided Drawing and modern processes such as laser technology 3D printing and programming.

Lisa said: "There is great freedom in technology as a subject, making it completely unique from every other subject in our education system. It provides students with an open broad design brief, giving each of us scope to carry it in our own unique direction. It’s very interesting to see your peers' different approaches to the same brief. What really intrigues me about technology is that it amalgamates the worlds of both creativity and logistics, which other subjects keep separate".

Gerald Crotty Lisa's technology teacher added: "Lisa took to the subject from her introduction to technology in first-year. Her unique style of creativity and innovation always shone through along with her excellent work ethic and enthusiasm."

Principal of Scoil Mhuire Miriam Downey said: "We in Scoil Mhuire are very proud of Lisa’s well-deserved result and award from the Techno Teachers Association.

"She always gave her best and was a diligent, hard-working and pleasant student. We wish her well in her studies and future engineering career.

"This is one of a number of top examination results in the area of technology for our school. In the past, Scoil Mhuire students have had the top result in the country at both Junior and Leaving Certificate Higher Level.

"Technology is a very popular subject in the school and we are very fortunate to have top-class facilities in Scoil Mhuire, which have been described as ‘state of the art’ by Department of Education officials. Mr Crotty, Lisa’s teacher, is an educator of vast experience and enthusiasm, who is most willing to pass his skills and talents on to students to encourage them to achieve their potential."

Lisa is currently studying Undenominated Engineering at the National University of Ireland Galway.