Belgreen team wins Spark Tank contest
RUSSELLVILLE Fourteen teams from three high schools pitched business ideas and competed for cash prizes during the second annual Franklin County Spark Tank competition.
Teams from Belgreen, Phil Campbell and Red Bay presented their projects to a panel of judges in a Shark Tank-style format at the Franklin County Career Technical Center (FCCTC) in Belgreen.
Jonathan King, career tech director for the county schools and principal of the FCCTC, said the event is designed to push students beyond the classroom.
“They have to think creatively, present their ideas and answer questions on the spot,” King said. “It gives them a chance to explain their thinking, answer questions and learn how to talk about their ideas. Those are skills they will use no matter what they decide to do after high school.”
He said Spark Tank is part of the career tech center’s effort to give students experience on thinking through real world problems.
February is National Career Tech Education Month, he said, making the timing a good fit for the competition.
Keylee Allison, a business teacher at the career tech center, said the event included overall winners along with several category awards.
She said students received breakfast, snacks and T-shirts, and a total of $1,200 in prize money thanks to the support of sponsors.
Allison said students had been preparing their ideas for months before the competition.
“I was extremely proud of them,” Allison said. “I was very proud of the idea and the courage that it took to get up there in front of their peers and the judges.”
The overall first place team was The Muse from Belgreen, made up of Cadi Pennington, Lukas Dodd and Mitchell Davis, all sophomores. The team also received the Most Socially Impactful award.
Their project focused on a software concept designed to translate sign language in real time, including potential use with wearable technology.
“Spark Tank taught us how to be professional, efficient and how to prepare for what seems to be a nerve wracking moment in front of a crowd of people,” Pennington said.
She said the team was surprised when they realized they had won.
“I was in shock, not because I did not think we did well, but because there were so many other contestants,” Pennington said.
Davis said the months of preparation were worth it.
“The fact that we won had a genuine smile on my face,” he said. “There were a ton of moments where I would second guess if we would win or not, but our five months of work really paid off.”
“The concept product that we proposed has the potential to inspire and assist those who struggle or wish to learn sign language, which is a real need,” Dodd said.
Second place overall went to Volume + from Phil Campbell, made up of Lola Mays, Melanie Gonzalez, Alaina Burcham and Kayden Headlee, all seniors.
Third place went to House of Hygiene from Phil Campbell, represented by Easton Hutcheson, Hudson Hutcheson, Jacob Landers and Ethan Hallman, all seniors. House of Hygiene also received the Best Presentation Award.
The Most Innovative award went to The Serpent Swivel from Red Bay, represented by Isaac Allen, a senior.
The Most Creative Use of Technology award went to Bullseye Bullets Hunting from Phil Campbell, made up of Jayden Taylor, Keaton Baker and Hagan Raper, all seniors.
