CEIA presents top electrical engineering student with graduate of the year award

The CEIA – Cork’s Technology Network –presented Laura Fennelly, with the Graduate of the Year Award yesterday in recognition of her graduating with the highest marks from University College Cork’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 2016. The annual award will be officially presented to Laura at the 32nd annual general meeting held in the Maryborough Hotel, Cork. The CEIA was founded in 1984 and represents high tech companies in the Cork region providing a platform for member companies within IT, electronic and engineering sectors.

Speaking in advance of the AGM, Chairman of the CEIA and Vice President of Operations & Plant Manager at Sanmina, Sean Moran said: “I am delighted to present Laura with this award on behalf of the CEIA. Every year the CEIA acknowledges the hard work and dedication of students in UCC’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering – Laura graduated from university with 1st class Honours and now her name will be added to a long list of exceptional students who have all gone on to achieve incredible things in the STEM sector.”

The CEIA is a very significant association for the High Tech industry in the region, speakers at the AGM will include Vice President of Intel’s Technology & Manufacturing Group and General Manager of Intel Ireland, Eamonn Sinnott – who leads one of the largest and most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in Ireland. Attendees will also hear from Frank Holt who is responsible for bringing recruitment specialist, Specialisterne to Ireland. Originating in Denmark in 2004, Specialisterne is a job creation and employment concept geared towards people with autism. The agency has placed people in IT roles with companies, such SAP, Deloitte, CPL and Kerry Group.

“We are very excited to have two exceptional speakers at our 32nd AGM this evening who will touch on two very important areas to CEIA members – manufacturing and employment. Intel have been in Ireland for 27 years and have invested over $7 billion in its manufacturing site, Eamonn is leading this operation and will able to brief our members on the new and exciting developments in the manufacturing sector,”

“Frank Holt from Specialisterne will speak about placing very talented, but often overlooked people who on the autistic spectrum – particularly those with Asperger’s – within tech companies.”

The CEIA not only provides on-going learning and transfer of knowledge for ICT professionals and engineers but also for students with an interest in working in ICT, Science and Engineering through their education and schools programme. STEM Programmes run by the CEIA, with support from Science Foundation Ireland and its industry members include the hugely successful SySTEM App development programme, the transition year work experience programme, ‘HighTechElec’, free maths tutorials for Leaving Cert Higher Level and the CEIA-ESERO Ireland CanSat Competition, to name but a few.

The CEIA works in accord with the Industrial Development Agency, Enterprise Ireland, Cork Education & Training Board, SFI, CIT and UCC, to ensure a sophisticated technological infrastructure is in place to enable industry to grow and prosper.

For more informationon CEIA programmes and initiatives see www.ceia.ie.