2021 Texas High School Ideas Challenge Winners Announced

By Stephanie Burns, McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship in Mays Business School at Texas A&M University

COLLEGE STATION, May. 5, 2021 –

$13,000 awarded to High School Entrepreneurs.

On Friday, April 30, 2021 the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the 2021 Texas High School Ideas Challenge. The inaugural competition invited 30 finalist teams to participate in the first-ever state-wide entrepreneurship competition for High School students. Each team competed in 2 rounds of intensive pitching that included a 5-minute, AV free presentation and a 5-minute Q&A with multiple panels of judges. Throughout the day, judges regularly commented on the high quality of each idea pitched and, on the maturity and professionalism of each young entrepreneur.

Blake Petty ’98, Executive Director of the McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship had the following to say about the competition “What a tremendous day full of exceptional ideas from some truly outstanding young entrepreneurs. As we began to build this inaugural Texas High School Ideas Challenge, we had hoped to see perhaps 25 high schools engage their students to compete. We were elated that over 40 schools from every corner of the state participated, and that the 167 high school competitors showed such incredible talent, creativity, and professionalism at such a young age! Our volunteer judges were immensely impressed with the young innovators who competed this year, and now we all cannot wait to see what ideas emerge in 2022.”

Notable Winners

Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park and Boerne Champion High School in Boerne made an impressive showing. Multiple students from each High School took home an award at this year’s competition. Students from 2 separate High Schools in Frisco also took home prizes. In addition, a local College Station student also took home a prize, illustrating the entrepreneurial prowess of students in Aggieland.

Although public viewing of the competition was not available, the winners of the day long competition were announced via live stream on Facebook. Those interested in viewing the Awards Presentation can do so at tx.ag/TXHSIdeasAwardsCeremony.

Listing of Winners.

The winning teams and their respective High Schools and cities are included below.

• $750 Honorable Mention Prize: Farmer Adam – A&M Consolidated, College Station
• $750 Honorable Mention Prize: CollegeHype – Clint ISD Early College Academy, Clint
• $750 Honorable Mention Prize: Allowance – Vista Ridge High School, Cedar Park
• $750 Honorable Mention Prize: Student Power – The Village School, Houston
• $1,000 Sixth Place Winner: SOle Cold – Boerne Champion High School, Boerne
• $1,250 Fifth Place Winner: Environmate – Centennial High School, Frisco
• $1,500 Fourth Place Winner: DropaBall – Boerne Champion High School, Boerne
• $1,750 Third Place Winner: PRACTICE PALS – Klein Cain High School, Klein
• $2,000 Second Place Winner: S.A.P.P.E. by MC – Frisco High School, Frisco
• $2,500 First Place Winner: WalkThru – Vista Ridge High School, Cedar Park

About Texas High School Ideas Challenge

The Texas High School Ideas Challenge motivates high school students to explore entrepreneurship and discover the benefit of an entrepreneurial mindset. There is no business plan or product development required for the Texas High School Ideas Challenge. Students must prepare and submit a compelling application that illustrated the creative, careful, and methodical planning that has gone into their idea.

About McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship

The McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship provides experiential programs, events, and education for entrepreneurs at Texas A&M University and across the state of opportunities for entrepreneurial students at Texas A&M University. We are committed to the success of entrepreneurs and believe that they are the cornerstone of a robust economy and nation.

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Media contact: Stephanie Burns, Communications Coordinator, McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship, (979) 458-8631, s.burns@tamu.edu.