Student Innovators Awarded Over $6,000 in Cash Prizes
FLINT, MI — The Genesee Intermediate School District (GISD) recently announced the winners of the 2025 Youth Entrepreneurship (YE) Final Pitch Competition, held Thursday, April 24 at the Genesee Career Institute (GCI). The top high school entrepreneurs from across Genesee County pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges in hopes of earning funding and gaining real-world entrepreneurial experience.
Each finalist took home a cash prize, with the top five receiving special recognition: 1st Place ($2,000) Kassidy Muldrew – Madison Academy, who will advance to the national Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) competition in New York City this fall, with full sponsorship; 2nd Place ($1,500) Andrew Yuschak – Goodrich; 3rd Place ($1,000); Na’Ziya Lewis – Swartz Creek – Great Lakes Virtual; 4th Place ($500) Tyler Rockman – Fenton; and 5th Place ($500) Addison Crimi – Montrose.
Additional finalists who earned recognition ($150) for their innovative ideas included:
Jacob Rivera (Atherton), Zeke Torrey & Zach Wirsing (Clio), Chloe Shampine (Goodrich), Victor Gomez (Grand Blanc), and Janee’ Tims (Hamady).
The Fan Favorite Pitch—voted on by the audience—was awarded to Victor Gomez (Grand Blanc), who received a $300 prize for his business AI-venture, an AI-powered app that delivers personalized, interactive travel tours.
The event also featured a student-run business marketplace, where participants showcased their products, swag, and promotional materials. The Fan Favorite Booth Award ($300) went to Antinyah Williams (Hamady High School) for her dessert business Antinyah’s Sweet Treats, which impressed attendees with cupcakes, banana pudding, and more.
For more information about GISD’s Youth Entrepreneurship programming, visit: https://bit.ly/GISDYEProgram.