Patchogue-Medford High School hosted its seventh annual Shark Tank Awards on Tuesday, March 10. The prize money was provided by the Kiwanis Club of Patchogue.
First place went to Oscar Mercedes, who received a $1,500 prize. Oscar won for his pitch, Fresh Patch, a patch that would monitor the freshness of high-protein food products.
Second place went to Yousef Elmasri for his pitch of Atlas One, a software using an AI language learning model that helps schools. He received a $1,000 prize. Yousef is currently in the process of actually developing this software alongside a Patchogue-Medford High School alum, Luis Hernandez Sanchez.
Third place went to Danna Rocano and Mary Sumba for their pitch of Aura Blow, an eco-friendly, multipurpose hairstyling tool that also provides customizable oil infused treatment and options for oil subscription plans. They received a $500 prize.
Fourth place went to Nohelia Villatoro for Beauty by Noh, a hair salon. Nohelia received a $250 prize. She is currently in Patchogue-Medford High School’s cosmetology CTE program and aspiresto own a salon one day.
The annual Patchogue-Medford High School Shark Tank competition allows students to pitch original business ideas to a panel of local professionals for prize money. With a growth in submissions each year, industries explored have ranged from researched-based products like apps and eco-friendly items.
Shark Tank-style competitions in schools are popular educational initiatives that teach students entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. The event provides real-world business experience to students, strengthening curriculum from business electives and after-school clubs.
The projects are typically geared towards solving everyday problems with STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) or ELA (English Language Arts) curricula at the base of the idea.
Other schools across the country have hosted competitions where different high schools go head-to-head in an elaborate presentation with expanded business, marketing, and finance details to the business/invention proposed.
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