Mayor of Derry, Councillor Brenda Stevenson, with Ann Blanking, pictured with pupils and staff from St Mary’s College, after collecting her MBE for services to education and the community in Northern Ireland. Included are Mark Logue and Marie Lindsay, principal. Photo: Stephen Latimer
Derry teacher Ann Blanking has picked up her MBE awarded to her in the Queen’s birthday honours list.
The St Mary’s College science teacher received the award for her outstanding contribution to the teaching of STEM (science, technoloy, engineering and mathematics).
Marie Linsday, principal, said pupils and staff at the Northland Road school were delighted with her award.
Mrs Linsday said Mrs Blanking was a “real inspiration” inspiration and the school, pupils and staff were delighted she received the award.
Mrs Lindsay added: “We are delighted that she has received this richly deserved recognition for the amazing work that she does.
“How lucky are our pupils to have her as their inspiration and how lucky are we the staff to have her as our colleague.
Mrs Blanking, who has taught science in St Mary’s College for nearly 20 years, is well known across the North and beyond for the continued and outstanding success of her young scientists in the prestigious BT Young Scientist Competition.
Well known for her commitment and dedication to her pupils, she runs a very popular Chemistry Club in the school and is loved by her pupils for her enthusiasm, dedication and the many, many hours outside of school time that she devotes to her beloved Chemistry Club pupils.
Pupils from Mrs Blanking’s Chemistry Club have won a long list of titles and awards:
They have been competing for many years at The BT Young Scientist Competition with great success.
In the last three years, she has successfully taken 27 Science projects to the BTYSTE finals in Dublin. Many of these have enjoyed great success and have won numerous awards.
In 2012, she won the all island Intel Teacher of Excellence Award.
Anne Blanking with pupils and staff from St Mary’s College after collecting her MBE for services to education and the community in Northern Ireland. Included, are Erin McPhilemy, Justine Munoz, Aoife Nash, Nicole McHugh, Megan Doherty, Aoife Bolster, Lavina Blanking, Mr Mark Logue and Marie Lindsay, principal. Photo: Stephen Latimer
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