Nearly 200 students from 15 high schools joined together to participate in the EntreX Lab Delaware Connect design sprint, a timed competition in which students address a real-world problem and pitch their solutions to a panel of judges.
This year, students tackled a new kind of challenge focused on public health. The American Lung Association, through its Kick Butts Generation (KBG), partnered with EntreX Lab to develop the challenge statement to consider solutions for how to reduce youth vaping and nicotine use across Delaware.
Teams composed of students from different schools had the morning to brainstorm solutions and create a 90-second pitch for the judges. The panel included Jordan Carter, American Lung Association Delaware, Sarah Carpenter, Community Volunteers in Medicine, and Patrick Carson, M&T Bank.
“Students faced an almost impossible challenge but rose to the occasion, turning uncertainty into creativity and developing ideas that truly surprised us.” — Jordan Carter, American Lung Association Delaware
The Blue Team placed first and earned a $20 gift card for each student.
Winning Team Members:
Rhett Bailey (Salesianum), Anthony Barone (Sun Valley High School), Vinicius Cassiano (South River High School), Vincent Copper (Interboro HS), Dorothy Day (MOT Charter School), Daniel Ezeogu (Odyssey Charter School), Hasnat Ghumman (Odyssey Charter School), Jade Haman-Phillips (MOT Charter School), Jackson MacNamara (Penncrest High School), Molly Mannion (Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr), Robert McGuire (Monroe Township High School), Sydney Reid (Penncrest High School), Alex Sturm (The Perkiomen School), and Molly Tischler (Padua Academy).
The team was led by educators Marina Vitalin (Monroe Township High School) and Paul Clementi (Merion Mercy Academy).
Building Innovation Skills
In addition to the design sprint, students participated in a day filled with innovation activities, including a Leadership by Design workshop led by Professor Nat Measley, where they explored divergent thinking, convergent thinking, and how to formulate an effective pitch.
Devon Preparatory School
Glasgow High School
Interboro High School
Merion Mercy Academy
Monroe Township High School
MOT Charter School
Odyssey Charter School
Padua Academy
Penncrest High School
Perkiomen School
Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr
Salesianum School
South River High School
Sun Valley High School
The Charter School of Wilmington
Expanding Access Through a Virtual Challenge
A virtual version of the challenge was also held to expand access for students across the global EntreX network. Nine schools participated, and Glen Rock High School earned top honors for their innovative pitch addressing youth vaping.
About the EntreX Lab Program
These schools adopted the EntreX Lab program, a curriculum focused on entrepreneurship education. The course emphasizes idea generation, creative problem solving, leadership, evidence-based decision making, resilience, teamwork, and persuasive communication.
Learn more about the EntreX Lab program and how to adopt 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 U.S., Horn was built and is actively supported by successful entrepreneurs, empowering aspiring innovators as they pursue new ideas for a better world.
