Engineering student from Carna wins industry award for top marks in her studies

Louise Ni Chonghaile, from Carna, a fourth year student in the GMIT School of Engineering, has won a top national industry award for achieving a Distinction performance in her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer & Electronic Engineering (Level 7) last year.

Louise, who is now in the fourth year of the honours degree programme, was presented with the new Intel Women in Technology Award at a formal ceremony in Dublin last week alongside her lecturer Natasha Rohan, Dept of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, and GMIT Careers Officer Bridie Killoran, both of whom nominated Louise for her award.

Nine women, who had completed Level 6 or 7 qualifications, received this new national award, which involves a monetary payment. Intel Leixlip and Intel Shannon also run a Women In Technology Scholarship programme offering a monetary grant valued at €3,000 per annum as well as opportunities for work placements.

Speaking about Louise’s achievement, her lecturer Natasha Rohan says: “Louise is a reliable, conscientious hard worker and a great team player, well-liked by her fellow students and lecturers. She has achieved a class first honours in her studies consistently from first year through to third year, in her exams, projects and continuous assessments and is graduating with a Distinction in her degree.”

“We would also like to thank Intel for liaising with us in GMIT and for supporting and encouraging women to choose a career in technology.”
Head of the Dept of Electronics & Electrical Engineering, Des O’Reilly, also paid tribute to the GMIT engineering student, saying: “Louise is a role model for attracting young people onto our courses and into the engineering profession.”

Sarah Sexton, Intel Public Affairs, said “We fundamentally believe, and it has been proven time and time again, that our business benefits from having diverse employees. We are delighted to present these awards and we congratulate all of the recipients and their families. Women are under-represented in the technology workplace and this program creates an important opportunity for us to encourage more young women to pursue careers in science and technology, as well as giving them first-hand experience of the career opportunities at Intel”.