MidAmerica Industrial Park and i2E announce award winners for high school entrepreneurship program
12/16/2024
“DipDaddy’s” student team from Inola High School wins highest honor
Leaders from MidAmerica Industrial Park and i2E announce a team of eight Inola high school students are the top winners of the high school entrepreneurship program called the MidAmerica Cup.
The MidAmerica Cup, in its second year, is a business plan competition organized by MidAmerica in collaboration with i2E (Innovation to Enterprise) and tailored for local school districts engaged with MidAmerica's STEM education programs. The initiative aims to broaden students' understanding of entrepreneurship, innovation, and collaboration.
“The competition adds to MidAmerica’s education and workforce strategy to create a homegrown talent pipeline and foster connections between local students and the 80 established employers located within the Park,” MidAmerica’s Director of Workforce Development Scott Fry said. “The MidAmerica Cup competition empowers high school students to form teams, develop a product, conduct market research, formulate financial projections and present a comprehensive business plan to potential investors.”
This year’s competition expanded significantly from the inaugural competition. Ten teams from six local high schools—Pryor, Jay, Inola, Wagoner, Salina and Adair High School—participated in the MidAmerica Cup competition. Launched in September, the MidAmerica Cup competition required each team to develop a business plan, marketing strategies, executive summaries, business models, budgets and timelines. The teams’ finalized projects culminated in formal presentations to a panel of judges on November 20 and award winners were announced December 9th. More than eleven thousand dollars was awarded to participating students and advisors.
“The growth of the MidAmerica Cup in just its second year demonstrates the appetite for entrepreneurial thinking in our community,” said Fry. “This competition allows students to gain hands-on experience and provides a pathway to explore careers in business and innovation. The success of this program is a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the dedication of our local schools.”
Inola High School’s “DipDaddy’s” team—consisting of seniors JayJim Yang, Hayze Green, Brock Flanagan, Dawson Burt, Dana Alvarado-Puentes, Aynsley Wright, Mathew Bynum, Syler Yang and school advisor Todd Dixon—won first place in the Best Overall category for their product, the “DipCaddy.” The DipCaddy addresses distracted driving by offering drivers a practical solution for eating while on the road. The team also placed first in the Best Pitch Presentation category and tied for first place in the Best Business Plan.
“These project-based learning opportunities often reflect the unique perspectives of young people, addressing needs specific to their peers and communities. The diversity of ideas highlights the creativity and forward-thinking nature of the students participating in the competition,” said Todd Dixon, Inola High School STEM Instructor. “I believe students learn more by engaging in a program like this than they do in a traditional classroom setting.”
The MidAmerica Cup takes inspiration from the Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup, Oklahoma’s statewide collegiate business plan competition, managed by i2E for over 20 years. This year’s event was supported by sponsors including GRDA, RAE Corporation, and EPSCoR as Gold sponsors, and RSUTV, Red Devil, BancFirst, and Action Group Staffing as Silver sponsors. PSO participated as a Bronze sponsor. The addition of sponsors like RAE Corporation and Red Devil highlights the expanding support for fostering entrepreneurial skills among students.
“We were proud to support the MidAmerica Cup as it encouraged students to explore their entrepreneurial potential,” said Damon Swank from RAE Corporation, one of this year’s pitch judges. “The creativity and passion that these students brought to the competition was truly inspiring.”
“Business development is a primary objective for MidAmerica Industrial Park,” said MidAmerica Chief Administrative Officer David Stewart. “This program has the potential to inspire students to pursue their own ventures, creating long-term economic impact in the region. By equipping students with practical experience and connections to local industries, the MidAmerica Cup is laying the groundwork for the next generation of business leaders.”
2024 MidAmerica Cup Award Winners
Best Overall
- 1st Place: DipDaddy’s, Inola High School
- 2nd Place: Save Our Schools, Salina High School
- 3rd Place: Meal Rush, Pryor High School
Best Business Plan
- 1st Place: VISAP, Jay High School
- 1st Place: DipDaddy’s, Inola High School
- 2nd Place: Meal Rush, Pryor High School
Best Pitch Presentation
- 1st Place: DipDaddy’s, Inola High School
- 2nd Place: Save Our Schools, Salina High School
- 3rd Place: Meal Rush, Pryor High School
90 Second Pitch – Best Overall
- Save Our Schools, Salina High School