The Nick Cannon Foundation, in collaboration with Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs across the country’s public schools, used Excelsior Preparatory High School in Queens to host its seventh annual national America’s Teen Mogul (ATM) competition on June 3.
The competition was designed to expose youths between the ages of 12 and 19 to global career and entrepreneurship opportunities available in middle-skill job sectors.
Over 15 teams of students from nine districts across the country took part in the event. Nick Cannon was on hand to announce the top winners of the competition. According to Cannon, he was blown away by the ingenuity and creativity displayed by the kids on each team throughout their presentations.
The competition connects business partners with students and teachers to develop a strong foundation for the U.S. economic future. In collaboration with members of the local business community, students present products they produce and business problems they solve. Previous projects include biomedical solutions, game design apps, automotive innovations, photographic art and robotics. Over 900 students, industry professionals, mentors, volunteers, guest speakers and parents attended the event at Excelsior Preparatory High School.
A New York City school was represented by Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem. Their Team reMind Me, composed of Robert Loveless, Makail Williams and Fritz Andral, ended up taking third place in the competition, earning a $2,500 cash prize for their presentation of an iOS app. The app was designed to combat and address procrastination, linked to mental health concerns like anxiety, ADHD and depression and their effects: lack of energy, motivation and disconnection.
Team AppaRent of Canyon Crest High School in San Diego took the $5,000 second-place prize. They created a business-to-customer retailing company featuring an online instant clothing rental service and targeting marginalized communities.
San Diego Unified School District’s Mission Bay High School team, Alattis, ended up winning the $10,000 first-place prize. Alattis created a modern solution to virtual and hybrid videoconferencing. According to the team, they were inspired to create the product after hearing legitimate concerns about the lack of hybrid meeting technology, experiencing how virtual students are disregarded in hybrid meetings and watching teachers and students alike struggle to learn with conventional videoconferencing software.
Excelsior Preparatory High School Principal Rodney Orji was given the 2022 “NCREDIBLE Administrator Award.” Additionally, San Diego Unified School District CTE Teacher David West received the 2022 “NCREDIBLE Teaching Partner Award.”
In addition to being supported by the Nick Cannon Foundation, the ATM competition was also sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank, JFK International Air Terminal and Sugar Factory Restaurant. According to Catherine Domenech, Wells Fargo’s vice president of community relations in New York, this event is very important to the country’s economic future.
“Wells Fargo is a proud sponsor of this event because we understand how essential financial education, entrepreneurship and innovation are to a growing and thriving economy,” Domenech said. “By supporting the Nick Cannon Foundation and its students, we are helping to play a key role in ensuring the next generation of innovators and community leaders have access to the resources they need to be successful.”
