NORTHERN Ireland’s top young web designers have been honoured in a competition organised by the Belfast Telegraph.  Now in its third year, the Belfast Telegraph and ValueOils.com's annual Young Web Designer of the Year competition gives students the chance to show off their creative and technical skills.

All of the entrants had to create a website based on the theme ‘Endangered! — The World Around Us’.  Pupils in schools across Northern Ireland won prizes in the other prestigious award categories.  The prize fund included iPod players for individual and group winners.  Each of the winners also received an engraved trophy and certificate to mark their achievements.

St. Pius X College students won both categories they entered within the North Eastern Education and Library board area.  The Key Stage 3 group winners are Caoimhe

Logan, Nicola McDermot, Aine O’Kane, Chloe Fullerton.  The Key Stage 4 individual winner is Rafal Kacprzyk.

Jennifer O'Reilly, Newspapers in Education Executive at the Belfast Telegraph, said: “Once again we have been very impressed by the standard of work presented for this competition.  There were many outstanding entries which were prime examples of the great work going on in schools in the teaching of communication and information technology.  I congratulate all the winners.  Their enthusiasm for the task was obvious and this made judging difficult, but a delight.”

ValueOils.com managing director Donall O'Connor said: “We are delighted to once again promote the students in our local schools and colleges, and their entries highlight the ever increasing importance of information technology.  This year the scope of the competition has been broadened to include university students.  We have been very impressed with the interest in web design within second and third level education and the level of talent and creativity that’s out there.  By recognising young talent, hopefully it will show this future generation of web designers that there are great careers and opportunities out there for those with a flair for IT.  Without young people like this, companies such as ValueOils would not be possible.”

Chloe, Nicola, Aine , Caoimhe and Mr G Duffy (E-Learning Co-ordinator)

Rafal with Mr G Duffy (E-Learning Co-ordinator)

Both award winning websites can be viewed below:

Rafal's Website: