More than 150 students from ten 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.
WSFS Bank sponsored the event and provided a challenge for students to address: how can WSFS engage Gen Z and help them to see the value of utilizing a regional bank with a physical footprint as their primary financial institution now and in the future?
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 of the WSFS team: Director Structured Finance at WSFS Institutional Services, Corporate Trust, Shaheen Mohajer; Vice President, Team Leader of Structured Finance and Custody, Mary Emily Pagano; and Trust Administrator, Tara Fallers.
The Teal Team placed first and earned a $50 giftcard for each student. Students on the winning team included: Ivanis Otero-Gonzalez (MOT Charter), Daniel Varughese (Monroe Township High School), Vivian Pinckney (MOT Charter), Shane Baird (Perkiomen School), Grace DiGiacomo (St. Mark’s High School), Cory Feaster (MOT Charter), Sandy Janton (Padua Academy), Mallory Murphy (St. Mark’s High School), Cameron Gaskins (Aspira Academy), Gavin Birney (First State Military Academy), Vito Demetrio (Monroe Township High School), Corbin Williamson (MOT Charter), Paige Hughes (Conrad Schools of Science), Parth Pittalwala (Monroe Township High School). This team was lead by educator Erin McNichol (Ursuline Academy).
“I was captivated with how many creative solutions the students came up with in a short period of time,” said Pagano. “Programs like this are essential to fueling the next generation of leaders as it provides them with the tools to think in ways beyond what is taught in traditional education.”
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: Aspira Academy (DE), Conrad Schools of Science (DE), First State Military Academy (DE), Glasgow High School (DE), Mainland Regional High School (NJ), Monroe Township High School (NJ), MOT Charter School (DE), Padua Academy (DE), Perkiomen School (PA), Saint Mark’s High School (DE), and Ursuline Academy (DE).
These schools adopted the EntreX Lab program, a dual enrollment program focused on entrepreneurship education. The curriculum 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.
