Being able to get advice on my pitch before the final presentation from HSN professionals was a great opportunity.
Tampa, Florida (PRWEB) February 29, 2016
Tampa Prep is proud to announce that eighth grader Ethan Yeh won first place in the University of South Florida’s 2016 Innovator Competition. His invention transforms used K-cups into a hydroponic garden to grow herbs and plants.
Ethan credits Tampa Prep for helping him succeed as a public speaker. Each year, every Tampa Prep student must present a Declamation speech to his or her entire English class. When asked how he felt presenting his pitch for the final time in front of the judges, Ethan said he wasn’t nervous at all because he had experience practicing and preparing a speech for Declamations.
The first round of competition narrowed the field from more than 700 entries in grades K - 8 to 50. The USF chapter of the National Academy of Inventors® selected the top 10 finalists. These students visited Home Shopping Network studios to practice their pitch for HSN executives, receiving coaching advice from Television Host Bill Green and other talent. Ethan said that one of his favorite parts of the competition was getting to go to HSN. He said, “Being able to get advice on my pitch before the final presentation from HSN professionals was a great opportunity.”
Using the advice from the HSN professionals, the finalists presented their final pitch to a panel of five judges and an audience of their peers and supporters at the USF Music Concert Hall. The judges encouraged competitors to pursue their inventions, providing feedback about business concepts like how to design a scalable product.
Before announcing the winners, Dr. Paul Sanberg, Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development at USF, noted that many of the student inventions this year addressed social concerns, indicating the drive young people have for making the world better. Ethan’s was one such invention, and it was the standout from this year’s submissions.
This annual competition, designed to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship in young students, is sponsored by the University of South Florida, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and Home Shopping Network (HSN). To learn more about the competition, visit https://usfyounginnovator.com.
