Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin

May 14, 2015 by Staff Report

Believe in Ohio Winners

Juniors Kate Duffy and Sami Lazuka were among the winners in the Believe in Ohio state competition that recognizes students for their STEM commercialization and STEM business plans. They won $2,500 for their business plan “Tag-My-Bag,” a luggage tag with a GPS chip and free phone app that allows air travelers to keep track of their luggage at all times. Business and technology teacher Nancy Vondrak accompanied them to the competition in Columbus.

Kate and Sami wrote their business plan as part of a project in Mrs. Vondrak’s Business in the 21st Century class last fall. After earning a third place award in NDCL’s own business plan competition, their plan advanced to the regional competition in March, where it was selected as a state finalist.

“Believe in Ohio is the only statewide Ohio student STEM education program to integrate entrepreneurship and innovation as pathways to create future jobs,” said Dr. Lynn Elfner, CEO emeritus of The Ohio Academy of Science and co-director of Believe in Ohio. “All 172 students were evaluated 11 or more times by judges from industry, government including the military and academia.”

Believe in Ohio is a student STEM entrepreneurship program of The Ohio Academy of Science, in cooperation with Entrepreneurial Engagement Ohio, and funded by The Ohio General Assembly through The Ohio Board of Regents. The program develops Ohio’s next generation of innovators to create jobs through the application of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to innovate new products and services.

NDCL is one of only two Catholic high schools in the entire state of Ohio to participate in the Believe in Ohio Youth STEM Commercialization and Entrepreneurship program.