Students celebrate their impressive win at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) 'Student Challenge'.  
Pictured (l-r): Phil Ward of Xthratherm (sponsors); Martin Cushnahan, Chairman of CIOB Northern Ireland; Karen Barber, BSc in Quantity Surveying; Ceranda Argue, BSc (Hons) in Fire Safety Engineering; David Little, Competition Judge and Regional Director for NHBC Northern Ireland;  Joseph Grant, BSc in Construction & Fire Technology; and Mark Buchanan, BSc (Hons) in Fire Safety Engineering.

A team of LYIT Civil Engineering and Construction students has won the northern regional heat of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) 'Student Challenge' for the second year in a row.  The competition took place at the Southern Regional College, Portadown, recently and included five groups of students from colleges and universities across Ulster.  The students had to solve a difficult construction management related problem before CIOB members, lecturers and fellow students - a pretty tough ask in front of an extremely knowledgeable audience.  However, the nerves held, and it was the four students from LYIT who came out on top winning first place.

Representing LYIT were  fourth year Fire Safety Engineering Honours students, Ceranda Argue and Mark Buchanan; Joseph Grant (third year Construction & Fire Technology); and Karen Barber (third year Quantity Surveying).  Austin Sammon and Rory McShane, Lecturers at LYIT, mentored and accompanied the team and were very proud and pleased with the excellent result, "Everyone performed exceptionally well under pressure.  It's a great achievement for us," said Austin Sammon.

The runner up was Belfast Metropolitan College and in third place was the Southern Regional College.  Each team member received £100 prize money and was presented with the perpetual cup and certificates.  The southern regional heat takes place in Limerick on 16 February.  The LYIT team or the winning team from the southern regional heat will be selected to represent Ireland at the UK/ROI CIOB Student Challenge in Ascot in March 2012.

Paul Hannigan, President LYIT congratulated the students "It shows the calibre and the talent of our students who are competing on a national level and winning.  Well done to the LYIT team.  I'd also like to thank the staff, who have dedicated their time in supporting the LYIT team."