Students at Sacred Heart Grammar School in Newry excelled at the recent Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) Young Economist of the Year Awards in Dublin, with 12 of them receiving awards.
Year 14 student Isabella Morgan was the overall Northern Ireland winner of the 2023 PDST Young Economist of the Year Award. The student was awarded for her research project entitled ‘Back to the Future: Gold provides stability to central banks in volatile times?’ The project questioned the feasibility of a return to a gold standard and whether there are other alternatives. It analyzed the current anomaly in the economy of entering a recession while still experiencing inflation. It explored the history of gold and why countries have decided to turn away from gold over the centuries. It also explored why countries could rely more on it given the current geo-economic and political conditions.
Sacred Heart students Lily Brannigan, Lucy Johnston and Orlaith Lambe pictured with their awards
The Northern Ireland Award Runner-Up was announced as Lily Brannigan, Lucy Johnston and Orlaith Lambe, Year 11 students at Sacred Heart Grammar School, Newry. Their investigative essay and animation was titled: Unheard Consequences: Unveiling the Economic Implications of Hearing Impairment in Today’s Society. It examined how people with a hearing impairment influence the growth of the global economy, and the costs this entails for both the individual and society. It focused on a range of aspects, from hearing impairment to inequality rooted in the education system.
The Sacred Heart’s successful economists take center stage at the esteemed awards ceremony
Also, a number of Sacred Heart students received a silver award for their projects and were invited to the ceremony to hand over their medals and present their projects. They included Eleanor Dunne, Orlagh McEvoy and Lauren McSwiggan (Year 11) for their project ‘The Climate-Economy Conundrum’, which explored the impact of climate change on the global economy. Isabella Leary, Grace Mallie and Ellen Boyle (Year 11) for their project ‘Uncovering the Correlation between Crime and Poverty’, which explores the relationship between crime and poverty. Tara Reilly (year 13) for her project ‘Examination The Paradox of Peace: Is Peace Good For The War Business?’ This was a commentary piece that focused on the issue of defense spending in a time of non-conflict. Ella Finnegan (year 13) for her project ‘Cinematic Growth: An Economic Analysis of the Impact of Film and Media on Ireland’s Tourism Industry’, which provided an economic analysis of this booming industry.
Mr. McComb, head of economics at Sacred Heart Grammar School, expressed immense pride in his young economists, praising them for their dedication, diligence and enthusiasm. “All of my students’ contributions demonstrated a well-considered methodology, examining key economics studies through the use of economic theory and empirical exploration. I am genuinely pleased that a large number of students participated in the ‘Young Economist of the Year’ competition , as it offered them the chance to brush up on their research skills and increase their enthusiasm for economics, enhancing their understanding of the world around them.
