PROVIDENCE – Nine Rhode Island high school students were awarded $12,000 in postsecondary scholarships in the Lt. Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge pitch competition on Saturday, the R.I. Lieutenant Governor’s Office announced Monday.
More than 30 teams participated in the competition held at the New England Institute of Technology, evaluated by a panel of judges, including Carlos Ventura, CEO of Feast and Fettle; Mark Deion, president of Deion Associates and Strategies; and Christine DiBiase, corporate and real estate attorney at Orson and Brusini.
Providence Detailing, a pitch by Alejandro Martinez and Laila Martin from the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center, won first place this year. The pitch was for an automobile cleaning and detailing business, allowing customers to make appointments to have cars detailed at work, home, or any other location.
“Congratulations to our second group of Lt. Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge scholarship recipients and all participants who shared their bold ideas with us,” stated Lt Gov. Daniel J. McKee. “Thanks to the Credit Unions of Rhode Island, we have provided nineteen high school entrepreneurs with $20,000 in scholarships over the last two years. I am grateful for their continued sponsorship and the support of all the organizations and individuals who make the challenge possible.”
The top five teams that received awards this year:
- First place: $5,000 in scholarship funds for Providence Detailing, a pitch by Alejandro Martinez and Laila Martin from the Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center.
- Second place: $2,500 in scholarship funds for Twin Skin, a pitch by Kate Lapierre and Kristianna Lapierre of North Smithfield High School.
- Third place: $2,000 in scholarship funds for Climate Cuff, a pitch by Jack Holmgren, Rob Ayers and Cole Batista of East Greenwich High School.
- Fourth place: $1,500 in scholarship funds for Digi-Sticker, a pitch by Alfred Timperley of East Greenwich High School.
- Firth place: $1,00 in scholarship funds for BrickLay, a pitch by Thomas Jefferson of La Salle Academy.
