High School Students from Correctional Facility Win Entrepreneurship Competition with Innovative App

Strategic Insights -

A group of young men from Johanna Boss High School at the O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility in Stockton recently competed in the 11th annual Project ECHO High School Entrepreneur's Business Plan Competition, where they presented their innovative app "Helping Hands, Breaking the Chains." The app aims to provide direction and resources to individuals who have been incarcerated, as well as those in housing, mental health, schools, and other areas of need. Despite competing remotely, the team from Johanna Boss H.S. impressed judges with their business plan and presentation, taking home the Most Inspirational award and placing sixth in the written business plan category.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Project ECHO High School Entrepreneur's Business Plan Competition was held at UCLA's Anderson School of Management, where over 500 high school students competed.
  • The team from Johanna Boss High School, comprised of five young men from the O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility, created the innovative app "Helping Hands, Breaking the Chains," which provides resources and direction to individuals who have been incarcerated.
  • The app includes features such as job listings, housing vacancies, health care information, and legal services, making it a potentially valuable resource for those re-entering society.
  • The team's written business plan score placed sixth among 42 written business plans, and their presentation score collectively placed them within the top 10 of the Technology-Based Business category.
  • The team's achievement is remarkable, given the challenges they faced as students from a correctional facility.
  • Project ECHO Executive Director Diane Quast praised the team's accomplishments, stating that "this team of young men has challenges far and beyond our typical students, and to accomplish so much within the confines of (a correctional facility) are absolutely amazing."

Statistics:

  • 500 high school students competed in the 11th annual Project ECHO High School Entrepreneur's Business Plan Competition.
  • 50 teams from 16 high schools participated in the competition.
  • The team from Johanna Boss High School placed sixth in the written business plan category.
  • The team's presentation score collectively placed them within the top 10 of the Technology-Based Business category.
  • The app "Helping Hands, Breaking the Chains" provides resources and direction to individuals who have been incarcerated, as well as those in housing, mental health, schools, and other areas of need.

Sources:

  • "More than 500 high school students recently competed in the 11th annual Project ECHO High School Entrepreneur's Business Plan Competition at UCLA's Anderson School of Management" - Sacramento Office of Internal Communications.
  • "The five from Johanna Boss H.S. could not compete live, so they videotaped their presentation" - Sacramento Office of Internal Communications.
  • "Project ECHO (Entrepreneurial Concepts Hands On) offers a hands-on year-round program in business and entrepreneurship" - Sacramento Office of Internal Communications.
  • "The group from Johanna Boss H.S. created an app, 'Helping Hands, Breaking the Chains'" - Sacramento Office of Internal Communications.