Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest Announces Winners of Inaugural Northwest Indiana High School Pitch Competition
Winners of the inaugural Northwest Indiana High School Pitch Competition included, from left, Brandon Walker; Omar Aftab; Abby Mena; Jocelyn Aguirre; Alexis Karahalios; Cameron Hutson; Miranda Gutierrez; Mi’Shawn Dawson, and Ashton Verbish.
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest has announced winners of the 2025 Northwest Indiana High School Pitch Competition – Hammond. Five winners were selected from sixteen student teams that presented their startup pitches at Purdue University Northwest’s Hammond campus on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Student teams each had four minutes to share their pitch, followed by questions from the judges.
Winners of the inaugural Northwest Indiana High School Pitch Competition included, from left, Brandon Walker; Omar Aftab; Abby Mena; Jocelyn Aguirre; Alexis Karahalios; Cameron Hutson; Miranda Gutierrez; Mi’Shawn Dawson, and Ashton Verbish.
“Overall, I was impressed by the range of concepts and ideas presented in various industries by such talented teams of high school students,” said Judith Cardenas, a business advisor for the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center who served as a judge for the competition. “The hard work and preparation of students was evident in their pitches. I wish more people in Northwest Indiana were aware of the content and high-level entrepreneurship skills that our area high school students are being taught and exposed to.”
“As part of the Society’s initiative to develop and support a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem in Northwest Indiana, it is important to host more of these pitch competitions in our region,” added Jason Williams, CEO for the Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest. “We are blown away every year by the problems these students are solving and want to do everything we can to give more students an opportunity to share their work out in the community.”
Each winner was awarded $200 to invest in their business idea.
Winners
Flip-E (Munster High School)
Flip-E is an automatic page turner that is paired with a facial recognition app with later education advancements. Team members include Brandon Walker and Omar Aftab.
Septo (Munster High School)
Septo is the simple solution to noninvasive infection tracking and prevention. The x-shaped bandage is plant powered, using natural pigments to change color as the pH of exudates from a wound becomes alkaline (basic). Team members include Alexis Karahalios, Abby Mena and Jocelyn Aguirre.
Filet Twist (Hobart High School)
Filet Twist is a filet knife attachment that connects to a fishing pole made in different sizes made for cutting line, fileting fish, etc. Filet Twist was presented by Cameron Hutson.
LeafAway
LeafAway is an automatic robot that acts like a vacuum for leaves. LeafAway will have a charging station and will be controlled through an app. In the app you are able to set a boundary for your front yard/backyard so the robot can follow. Team members include Miranda Gutierrez and Mi’Shawn Dawson.
SafetyGlow
SafetyGlow is an attachable hazard light that is powered by LED that goes on the back of vehicles and trailers that are disabled on the sides of roadways. SafetyGlow was presented by Ashton Verbish.
The Judging Panel Included
- Kristin Burton, assistant professor of Entrepreneurship at PNW
- Judith Cardenas, business advisor for the Northwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC)
- Magesh Chandramouli, professor of Computer Graphics Technology at PNW
The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest will host its next Northwest Indiana High School Pitch Competition on March 14 at PNW’s Westville campus, 1401 S. U.S. 421, Westville, Ind. Student applications are closed, but the event is free and open to the public to attend. Learn more and register at pnw.edu/soi.