More than 200 students from 17 high schools joined together to participate in the EntreX Lab Delaware Connect design sprint, a timed competition in which students address a problem and pitch a solution to a panel of judges.
Community partners, the Food Bank of Delaware and Tech Impact Data Lab, provided a challenge for students to address: “How can we create solutions that help individuals navigate benefits cliffs, ensuring that increasing their income doesn’t leave them worse off?”
The teams, composed of students from different schools, had the morning to brainstorm a solution to the problem and create a 90 second pitch for the judges. The panel of judges included members Anna McDermott and Megan Zavala from the Food Bank of Delaware and Fumian Chen and Alex Socarras from Tech Impact.
The Red Team placed first and earned a $20 giftcard for each student. Students on the winning team included: Braylon Colone (Immaculata), Abigail Rafferty (Concord), Madelyn Sims (Conrad), Ryan Victoria (Devon Prep), Vincent Welsh (Interboro), Aarav Chitti (MOT Charter), Jayda Pierre (MOT Charter), JamieLynn Frank (Padua), Dominic Chidoni (Penncrest), Maddy Klodarska (Penncrest), Drew Caramandi (Salesianum), Jude Szczerba (Salesianum), Jackson Galemore (Salesianum), Margarita Ikonomova (South River), Alec Dukes (Sussex Academy), Kaity Rzucidlo (Ursuline Academy), Olamilekan Shoyinka (William Penn). This team was led by educator Jocelyn Smith (Sacred Heart Academy).
The Pink Team was also presented as a Honorable Mention!
“This program allows the students to have real world experience with problems people face everyday,” said Zavala. Echoing this, Socarras appreciated the “focus on real world impact” and encouraged students to “develop a growth mindset early.”
In addition to the design sprint, students were treated to a day filled with innovation activities including a Leadership by Design workshop led by professor Nat Measley, divergent thinking, convergent thinking and formulating a pitch.
Students hailed from Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey:
These schools adopted the EntreX Lab program, a curriculum program focused on entrepreneurship education. The course focuses on the key skills of idea generation, creative problem solving, leadership, evidence-based decision making, resilience, teamwork and persuasive communication. Learn more about the EntreX Lab program and adopting it at your school.
About Horn Entrepreneurship
Horn Entrepreneurship serves as the creative engine for entrepreneurship education and advancement at the University of Delaware. Currently ranked among the best entrepreneurship programs in the US, Horn Entrepreneurship was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
