FIRST L.E.O. PROGRAM IRONWORKS COMPETITION
Ramsey, NJ – The Leonidas Foundation is proud to announce that it has awarded $10,000.00 in collegiate scholarships as part of The L.E.O. Program’s first “Ironworks” Entrepreneurship Competition at Don Bosco Preparatory High School this evening.
The twenty-two senior students in the L.E.O. Program’s inaugural cohort at Don Bosco Prep competed in a team-style competition similar to the popular television show, Shark Tank. Students were tasked with creating a new business idea that solves a common problem, formulating comprehensive marketing and substantive information about the product, and presenting their creations to a panel of real-life investors, known as “Sharks,” including leaders from the financial, legal, automotive, banking, and medical industries.
The products presented by the students and considered by the “Sharks” included:
The winning business idea selected by the “Sharks” was Simplex, whose team received $7,500.00 in scholarships. The runner-up was Ameripass, whose team members were awarded $2,500.00 scholarships. The audience also selected a “Most Socially Responsible” project, which was Critter Care and garnered $100.00 scholarships for each team member.
“Watching these students take ideas from the brainstorming phase all the way to tonight’s investor presentations was an impressive and fulfilling process,” said Professor John Esposito, the L.E.O. Program’s teacher. “The students have utilized countless aspects of the course curriculum in these presentations and we are very proud of the final products of their hard work.”
“The Leonidas Foundation is honored to present these scholarship monies as part of the inaugural ‘Ironworks’ event,” said President Matthew Perricone. “As the first cohort of the L.E.O. Program at Don Bosco Prep, these students have set the bar high for the years to come. We are all very proud of their accomplishments and wish them great prosperity as they transition into the next chapter of their lives.”
The Leonidas Foundation was formed in 2016 following the passing of Don Bosco Preparatory alumnus Leonidas “Leo” Vagias, an avid business enthusiast who expressed his desire to be an entrepreneur from an early age.
“These projects are not only the finished products of a year’s worth of education, but they are all viable businesses with the capacity to positively impact the real world,” said Teddy Vagias, Leo’s father, on behalf of the Vagias family. “This is what drove Leo in his passion for business, and it is incredible to see that same passion embodied among these young men this evening and every day moving forward.”
The twenty-two senior students in the L.E.O. Program’s inaugural cohort at Don Bosco Prep competed in a team-style competition similar to the popular television show, Shark Tank. Students were tasked with creating a new business idea that solves a common problem, formulating comprehensive marketing and substantive information about the product, and presenting their creations to a panel of real-life investors, known as “Sharks,” including leaders from the financial, legal, automotive, banking, and medical industries.
The products presented by the students and considered by the “Sharks” included:
- Critter Care: One-stop shop allowing owners to travel anywhere in the world with their pets, listing vets, dog parks, and pet shops
- Party Wheels: Alcohol delivery service to prevent drunk driving
- Ameripass: Catchall EZ-Pass app that allows users seamless travel across systems
- Simplex: Interoffice communication service that simplifies scheduling and communication.
- LMK365: Location-based texting app that automatically communicates with pre-determined parties upon arriving at a destination
The winning business idea selected by the “Sharks” was Simplex, whose team received $7,500.00 in scholarships. The runner-up was Ameripass, whose team members were awarded $2,500.00 scholarships. The audience also selected a “Most Socially Responsible” project, which was Critter Care and garnered $100.00 scholarships for each team member.
“Watching these students take ideas from the brainstorming phase all the way to tonight’s investor presentations was an impressive and fulfilling process,” said Professor John Esposito, the L.E.O. Program’s teacher. “The students have utilized countless aspects of the course curriculum in these presentations and we are very proud of the final products of their hard work.”
“The Leonidas Foundation is honored to present these scholarship monies as part of the inaugural ‘Ironworks’ event,” said President Matthew Perricone. “As the first cohort of the L.E.O. Program at Don Bosco Prep, these students have set the bar high for the years to come. We are all very proud of their accomplishments and wish them great prosperity as they transition into the next chapter of their lives.”
The Leonidas Foundation was formed in 2016 following the passing of Don Bosco Preparatory alumnus Leonidas “Leo” Vagias, an avid business enthusiast who expressed his desire to be an entrepreneur from an early age.
“These projects are not only the finished products of a year’s worth of education, but they are all viable businesses with the capacity to positively impact the real world,” said Teddy Vagias, Leo’s father, on behalf of the Vagias family. “This is what drove Leo in his passion for business, and it is incredible to see that same passion embodied among these young men this evening and every day moving forward.”
