Year 13 student Shauna Pentony, who represented Rotary Ireland in Strasbourg recently, photographed with Principal, Mr Jarlath Burns and Head of Year 13, Ms Christine Fearon

Year 13 student, Shauna Pentony, recently returned from Strasbourg as part of a group of twenty-five students who represented Rotary Ireland.

The focus of the Rotary Club is to promote leadership among young people and encourage them to become active citizens. Shauna competed against students from other schools in the Newry and Mourne Area and secured a place in the Regional Finals – which she won.

This achievement meant that Shauna would travel to Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg as an extension of the Youth Leadership Development Programme, called Euroscolar.

Along with students from across Ireland, Shauna had the opportunity visit Stormont and speak with MLAs; visit the Dáil and Seanad chambers and speak to representatives there.

She then travelled to Strasbourg, where she toured European parliament buildings, met with MEPs and debated on topical issues.

This has been an invaluable opportunity for Shauna and she has gained much from being involved in such a programme. She would like to thank Donal McCaul from Newry Rotary Club for the opportunity and the staff of St Paul’s for their support.