On Thursday evening, April 18, forty-five teams of LearnServe Fellows presented their ideas to change the world.
Their ventures were reviewed by more than 120 panelists and judges — all business and non-profit leaders from across the region. Students competed for seed funding to launch their ventures — a matching grant of up to $200 — as well as LearnServe’s inaugural innovation award.
We are proud to announce the winners of the 2013 LearnServe Innovation Award:
Ekram Jiru and Rose Quispe: “Read to Succeed
Category: DC Public and Charter Schools; PG County Public Schools
School: Benjamin Banneker Academic High School
Both Ekram and Rose arrived in the United States not speaking a word of English. While their elementary school taught them to speak English, they had to find reading on their own. Read to Succeed will help 3rd and 4th grade ELL students at Brightwood Educational Campus develop a love of reading.
Prize: Consulting from Allyson Knox, Microsoft.
Sophia Pink: “UPliftr”
Category: Independent Schools
School: Washington International School
UPliftr is a first-of-its-kind mobile app that sends users suggestions for specific, easy-to-do acts of kindness — UPs. By performing these UPs and sharing them with others, UPliftr users lift up their communities and improve their own wellbeing.
Prize: Consulting from Anthony Shop, Social Driver.
Tho Tran: “Lovable Math”
Category: Fairfax County Public Schools
School: Annandale High School
Lovable Math offers an online platform where high school and college students offer free virtual math tutoring — fostering an interest in math while helping students improve their math skills.
Prize: Consulting from David Selden, ICF International.
Zora Williams and Nancy Cedillo: “Figuring Out College Success”
Category: Montgomery County Public Schools
School: Rockville High School
F.O.C.S. helps students from international backgrounds and working class families — with the potential to be the first in their families to pursue higher education — see college as attainable. The F.O.C.S program is designed to instill a sense of preparedness, awareness, and self-empowerment.
Prize: Consulting from Rich Storey, Deloitte.
One thought on “LearnServe Innovation Awards Announced”
Bravo and congratulations. To all the awardees but I call every Fellow a winner who presented a venture with passion. Stay passionate and help us change the world. Youth empowerment!!!