Young Innovators Shine at Dual Showcases

Young Innovators Shine at Dual Showcases

From short films and podcasts to pollinator playgrounds and medical supply delivery systems, students at SCH were recognized for their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication at last week's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) Capstone Showcase. The event celebrated the outstanding projects developed by sophomores, recognizing achievements in teamwork, social impact, resiliency, creativity, and more, from invention to app design.

SCH's CEL partner school in Dubai, Arcadia British School, held its first showcase, dubbed "Launchpad," last week. This partnership was formed six years ago through the University of Pennsylvania’s Education Entrepreneurship Program, where CEL executive director Ed Glassman met the CEO of the Arcadia British School, Dr. Navin Valrani. 

Since that time SCH faculty have shared their expertise and the school’s unique CEL curriculum with Arcadia educators. Arcadia students presented projects focused on addressing critical global issues, including climate change, educational inequality, sustainable fashion, and the application of AI in the beauty industry. 

Ed Glassman, director of CEL at SCH, attended both events, witnessing firsthand the impressive work of students on both continents."These showcases underscore the effectiveness of the CEL curriculum in fostering entrepreneurial spirit and equipping students with the skills to develop impactful solutions to real-world problems," said Glassman.

CEL Showcase SCH 2025

The showcase at SCH featured a diverse range of projects, highlighting the students' ingenuity and problem-solving skills. The projects tackled real-world challenges and demonstrated a commitment to positive change, including the students who won the Showcase’s top prize, The Sands Award, which recognizes a student or student team “whose project embodies the entrepreneurial pillars: Resiliency, Opportunity Seeking, Resourcefulness, and Creativity” and “who went above and beyond expectations.” 

This year, two projects received Sands Awards: Ryleigh Bakley and Penelope Rice for their product, the Fragrance Fan, a portable fan infused with fragrance that charges from your phone battery; and Richard Li for Shanxi LifeSpark Initiative, which aims to raise awareness about Black Lung Disease (BLD) and provide medical equipment to patients in Shanxi, China. Li (pictured above) said he was inspired to market art from the region abroad and use the profit to support patients, like those he interviewed for his project

“Every day more than 6 million mining workers in China suffer from BLD due to exposure to excessive amounts of dust and ash at their workplace and inadequate workplace protection,” said Li (pictured above). “Their struggles, their health issues, and the reality of their workplace environment left a huge impact on me.”

Dubai Tenacity Award CEL

Mehrish, second from left, wins the Tenacity Award in Dubai.

"Richard's project exemplifies the four levers of social impact—awareness, advocacy, philanthropy, and action," said CEL teacher Julie Knutson. "By forging nonprofit partnerships, conducting ethnographic research, and developing a philanthropic initiative that supports both miners and local artisans, Richard created a visionary and impactful project."

All SCH sophomores take our CEL Capstone course—a unique, self-directed project-design experience. With the support of dedicated faculty mentors and access to specialized studios, students bring ideas inspired by their personal passions to life using the business, design, and technology skills learned in previous CEL classes.

Winning the Tenacity Award in Dubai was Mehrish whose project, Akhtar & Co, provides accessible immigration legal services.

Mehrish's project focuses on "offering immigrants from economically disadvantaged countries transformative opportunities to either pursue higher education at UK universities or embark on professional football careers. Our mission is to eliminate the financial obstacles that often accompany the hiring of immigration attorneys, facilitating a more seamless transition for individuals aspiring to a better future in the UK."

Learn about the winning SCH projects, nonprofits, services, and apps our students have worked hard to develop below.

2025 Capstone Showcases
 

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