WORKFORCE HIGHLIGHT: MidAmerica Industrial Park and i2E announce award winners for high school entrepreneurship program
04/05/2024
MidAmerica Industrial Park, in collaboration with i2E (Innovation to Enterprise), launched an innovative pilot program known as the MidAmerica Cup business plan competition.
Tailored for local school districts, the MidAmerica Cup engaged with high school students in a fun and engaging environment. While facilitating collaboration with businesses at MidAmerica, the program creates a talent pipeline, creating connections between students and companies within the Park.
“Our hope is that the MidAmerica Cup stands as an example of collaboration, innovation and skill development,” said Scott Fry, MidAmerica’s director of workforce development. With a clear focus on growing entrepreneurial thinking and connections between students and industry, this program is expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of both local and regional workforce.
Dr. Jenny Peters, Pryor High School STEM instructor, emphasized that the MidAmerica Cup showcases MidAmerica’s proactive involvement in shaping the workforce of the future. It underlines their dedication to students, functioning as a testament to the Park’s commitment to workforce development and the next generation of leaders.
Seven teams from four school districts participated in the MidAmerica Cup, with i2E providing coaching sessions. The teams crafted comprehensive business plans, presented their pitches on November 30, leading to the MidAmerica Cup awards ceremony on December 12.
Pryor High School’s “Creative Spark Industries” team, consisting of seniors Cayden Knight, Johnathan Stevers and Faith Buford, along with school advisor David Day, secured the highest honors. Their project, “LocalEyes,” an application and website designed to connect citizens in communities and boost customer engagement among local businesses, earned them first place in the Best Overall, Best Business Plan and Best Pitch Presentation categories.
Faith Buford, co-founder of LocalEyes, expressed pride in their achievement and highlighted the app’s goal to connect businesses with their audience using technology.
In preparation for the MidAmerica Cup competition, conducted qualitative market research and engaged with business owners to tailor the LocalEyes app. The primary target market is local chambers of commerce, which could purchase the app as a value-added service to chamber members. Additionally, non-member businesses could privately purchase the app.
Inspired by the Love’s Entrepreneur’s Cup, the MidAmerica Cup aims to ignite creativity among high school students. Rex Smitherman, i2E president, expressed excitement about collaborating with MidAmerica on this initiative, aligning with i2E’s mission to develop Oklahoma’s next generation of entrepreneurs.
The MidAmerica Cup was created by MidAmerica Industrial Park through a partnership with i2E and additional supporters, including EPSCoR, Grand River Dam Authority, BancFirst, Center on Rural Innovation, RSU-TV, Action Group Staffing, HE&M Saw, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and the Pryor Area Chamber of Commerce. The program not only stands as a testament to collaborative efforts but also celebrates the entrepreneurial potential of high school students, fostering innovation and driving economic growth in the region and the state.
MIDAMERICA CUP AWARD WINNERS
BEST OVERALL
1st Place: LocalEyes, Pryor High School
2nd Place: Petrol Plastix, Pryor High School
3rd Place: USAL, Pryor High School
BEST BUSINESS PLAN
1st Place: LocalEyes, Pryor High School
2nd Place: Petrol Plastix, Pryor High School
3rd Place: Go-2-Shoes, Adair High School
BEST PITCH PRESENTATION
1st Place: LocalEyes, Pryor High School
2nd Place: Longhorn Lock, Inola High School
3rd Place: USAL, Pryor High School
90 SECOND PITCH – BEST OVERALL
James Stanley, Go-2-Shoes