Young Innovators Announced for NFTE World Series of Innovation (WSI)

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The trailblazing young winners of the World Series of Innovation (WSI), the annual, global innovation challenge presented by Microsoft YouthSpark, were announced today.  The competition invited teams of students worldwide to devise innovative products and services that address everyday opportunities in seven categories. With nearly 800 international entries, two team winners were chosen in each category.

WSI is a signature program part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) and is organized annually by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) – an international non-profit which teaches young people to think like entrepreneurs and provides them with tools and attitudes to overcome adversity and address future personal, economic, community and global challenges.

Judges from the sponsoring companies and organizations including Microsoft, GoDaddy, Coca-Cola, Pitney Bowes Foundation, Junoon Hospitality with MasterCard and The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, selected one winning team from each category for the Adjudicator's Choice. In addition, the public, with thousands of online votes cast, awarded one team from each category for the People's Choice.  These winners each receive $2,000 in cash and prizes and $500 for their school or youth serving organization.

Winning team members in the Microsoft Mobile App Design and Mobile Game Design categories each received a Microsoft Office 365 for Students.

Winning team members in the GoDaddy Category received in-kind GoDaddy product and service bundles including a domain name, Website Builder and one Office 365 from GoDaddy email for 2 years.

The grand prize winners for all of the categories include:

Microsoft App Challenge: Teams designed an engaging tablet or smart phone app that addresses an important issue or improves community relations at their school.

• People's Choice: NBZ: No Bully Zone from World Communications Charter School in Philadelphia, PA 
• Adjudicator's Choice:  Team Keturah's Project ("My Look Out") from San Leandro High School in San Leandro, CA

Microsoft Game Challenge: Teams developed a cool tablet or smart phone game that improves student achievement and builds awareness of school issues.

• People's Choice: ExperiWOMENtal from Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD 
• Adjudicator's Choice: Team Kobi's Project ("Another Day in High School") from Nova High School in Miami, FL

GoDaddy: Teams designed an innovative app that connects small business owners with information and resources to help them thrive, grow their business and network with other small business owners.

• People's Choice: WE2B  (World Entrepreneurs to Business) from San Leandro High School in San Leandro, CA 
• Adjudicator's Choice: Soirée from Pathways Academy of Technology and Design in Hartford, CT

MasterCard with Junoon Hospitality: Teams researched international hospitality trends and explored new market opportunities to help Junoon Restaurants go global.

• People's Choice: Team Makda's Project ("Junoon Nightlife") from San Leandro High School in San Leandro, CA 
• Adjudicator's Choice:  NSHS FBLA Project ("The Spice Experience") from Newton South High School in Newton MA

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Teams created a unique tablet or smart phone app that promotes volunteerism for a more caring society and a better world.

• People's Choice: Team Blair's Project   ("Volunteer Me") from Riverpoint Academy in Spokane, WA 
• Adjudicator's Choice:  Team Cassidy Project ("Teen Connect") from Academy of Information Technology and Engineering in Stamford, CT

Coca-Cola/ VEB (venturing & emerging brands): Teams dreamed up a new beverage company committed to the health, wellness and vitality of Baby Boomers.

• People's Choice: Team Michelle 2's Project ("Reborn") from Eric Hamber Secondary School in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Adjudicator's Choice:  Team Jessica 3's Project ("Samurai Soda") from Edgemont High School, Scarsdale, NY

Pitney Bowes Foundation:  Teams invented a location-aware application that addresses a need in their school or community. 

• People's Choice: Team Sharon 2's Project ("CONNECTeen") from San Leandro High School in San Leandro, CA
• Adjudicator's Choice:  uHelp from Pathways Academy of Technology and Design in Hartford, CT

"The World Series of Innovation is a great opportunity for our youth to think big to solve real world issues that can make a global impact," said Shawn Osborne, President and CEO of NFTE.  "We look forward to the possibility of seeing these exciting innovations come to life and to continue to empower all young people to pursue opportunity, entrepreneurship and ultimately to succeed in life."

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship – Since 1987, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has taught and inspired more than 600,000 young people to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses, and succeed in life. By providing entrepreneurship education programs relevant to the real world, NFTE empowers students to own their education and future success. NFTE has programs in 17 U.S. communities and 10 countries. To learn more visit www.nfte.com, like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/NFTE and follow us on Twitter at @NFTE

For Information: [email protected] 212-232-3333 x316

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SOURCE Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

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