At this weekend's University of St. Thomas Bold Ideas Pitching Competition, three Village School 10th graders won 2nd place. Vivian T.'s project took 2nd place for Entrepreneurship and Mariela A. and Beatriz D won 2nd Place in Social Entrepreneurship for their business idea. We had a total of 65 STEAM Superhero product models/prototypes developed and presented by our high school students, competing against 19 college teams.
Vivian developed a product called Balgae - a flexible bandage that utilizes the healing compounds from marine seaweeds, healing wounds faster with minimal scarring. It is a quick-dry liquid bandage that contains lipid-repairing ingredients and occlusives, forming a microclimate between the skin and bandage, allowing for speedy healing. In addition to placing 2nd place for Bold Ideas Pitch Entrepreneurship Track, she also took home a $3000 monetary prize.
Worried about chewing gum litters and the non-biodegradable polymers spit out by people everywhere, Mariela and Beatriz developed a product called EcoChew - a biodegradable chewing gum thats intended to be swallowed. Made of healthy ingredients, the gum comes in two flavors (for now) - mint and honey. They were awarded a $3000 monetary prize as well, placing 2nd for the Bold Ideas Pitch Social Entrepreneurship Track.
Both these ideas were originially conceived by the students through this year's MIT Challenge, which is made possible through Nord Anglia Education's collaboration with MIT. Read more about the school's MIT Curriculum here.
The Shark Tank-like Pitching Competition was hosted by The Cameron School of Business McNair Center for Free Enterprise and Entrepreneurship within UST, in partnership with Station Houston and Houston Community College. Participants were required to give their pitches in under three minutes.
Every school is home to exceptional individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on their community. Whether it's through class initiatives, service projects, or independent efforts, students are constantly striving to improve the world around them.
At The Village School, these initiatives shine brightly as students embrace opportunities to lead with empathy and purpose. One such example is a project started by Milan Drummond, a 12th grader with a passion for justice and community well-being. Through her initiative, Harmony Highways, Milan is working to improve relations between the public and law enforcement, reflecting both her desire to make a difference and her career aspirations.
During the summer time, vacations, pools, and fun are certainly on children’s minds. However, it’s also important to incorporate learning into their day. Summer learning loss, also known as the "summer slide," refers to the decline in academic and social skills that can occur when children are not engaged in educational activities during the summer months. Dana Sheridan, LPC, Lower School Counselor at The Village School, sheds light on this issue and offers practical solutions for parents to keep their children's minds active during the long summer break.
.png?h=48&iar=0&w=233&rev=48be0e4e096845f48547850b335e51de&hash=C13D6F4889A0A50528B9E85C304F1EB5){kind=small}
.png?h=48&iar=0&w=213&rev=36cdc5bc884f412c8a364af6829893fa&hash=E1321724B9376822E0609D2A0430C698){kind=small}
.svg?rev=9fe0e392449346898bfb5359a1712c74&hash=0CFEC6C43B078E93E0FF4FFFF79FD684){kind=icon}
.svg?rev=c1fad1a5d67c42c181bab95cecd7c167&hash=7818833ACDD57A69E399597406805939){kind=icon}
