More than 50 students from Wake County Public School System recently showcased their entrepreneurial skills at the inaugural Design & Pitch Competition, held at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. The competition, spearheaded by esteemed professors Erin Krupa and Robin Anderson from the NC State College of Education, centred on devising practical solutions to a variety of mathematical challenges.
Students from seven different middle and high schools presented their inventive pitches, tackling issues such as sustainability, mental health, and charitable donations. Their concepts ranged from using recycled materials to create cleaner gas pumps, crafting eco-friendly water bottles from bamboo, to developing an app to support teenage mental health initiatives.
A distinguished panel of 15 volunteer judges assessed the pitches and selected the top three teams in both the middle and high school categories. The winning high school team from Wake STEM Early College presented a mapping application that aids users in discovering hidden gems in their communities whilst travelling. Conversely, the successful middle school team from Reedy Creek Middle School proposed a business model for establishing a network of solar-powered charging stations for electric vehicles.
Dr. Krupa expressed her satisfaction with the students’ performance, observing their initial nervousness and subsequent confidence in presenting their ideas. She underscored the pivotal role of parental, teacher, and community support in bolstering the students’ morale and enthusiasm for learning. Importantly, the event was part of a National Science Foundation grant-funded initiative, dedicated to integrating mathematics, entrepreneurship, and innovation into secondary education.
This project, which was conferred with the International Society for Technology in Education’s Best of STEM Award in 2022, is slated for expansion with the introduction of nine new high school-level challenges. The overarching aim is to develop a total of 18 Design & Pitch challenges across the middle and high school curricula. Additionally, Krupa and Anderson are in the process of organising the fourth annual complimentary Entrepreneurial High School Math Summer Camp to further nurture innovation and creativity among students.
Dr. Krupa underscored the importance of such events in bolstering students’ confidence, fostering fresh ideas, and augmenting their comprehension of STEM concepts and technology. Furthermore, she emphasised the positive impact of students sharing their innovative solutions with the wider community.
The Design & Pitch Competition not only furnishes students with a platform to exhibit their creativity and problem-solving abilities but also enables them to effect a positive change in the world around them. As the project continues to unfold, it is anticipated to inspire more young minds to embrace entrepreneurship, innovation, and the exhilarating realm of STEM.