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The NFTE Philadelphia Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase with @masteryschools brought together incredible student pitches, thoughtful judging, and a lot to celebrate.

Congratulations to our student winners:
- Za’miiaah McKnight, Christian Rich, Jaini Vargas Gomez, and Dyland Ventura from Mastery Schools Thomas Campus, who won the Fast Pitch competition with Auto-LOCK
- Nassata Gbapo from Mastery Schools Simon Gratz Campus, who won the Runner-up competition with GSTEP
- Sierra Hampton from Mastery Schools Pickett Campus who won the Most Improved Student competition with Glow Green

We were also proud to recognize Joel Barnett as NFTE’s Individual Volunteer of the Year for his outstanding commitment to supporting NFTE students in Philadelphia.

Thank you to our partners at Mastery Schools and everyone who helped make this event such a memorable celebration of youth entrepreneurship. 🚀

The NFTE Philadelphia Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase with @masteryschools brought together incredible student pitches, thoughtful judging, and a lot to celebrate.

Congratulations to our student winners:
- Za’miiaah McKnight, Christian Rich, Jaini Vargas Gomez, and Dyland Ventura from Mastery Schools Thomas Campus, who won the Fast Pitch competition with Auto-LOCK
- Nassata Gbapo from Mastery Schools Simon Gratz Campus, who won the Runner-up competition with GSTEP
- Sierra Hampton from Mastery Schools Pickett Campus who won the Most Improved Student competition with Glow Green

We were also proud to recognize Joel Barnett as NFTE’s Individual Volunteer of the Year for his outstanding commitment to supporting NFTE students in Philadelphia.

Thank you to our partners at Mastery Schools and everyone who helped make this event such a memorable celebration of youth entrepreneurship. 🚀

The NFTE Philadelphia Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase with @masteryschools brought together incredible student pitches, thoughtful judging, and a lot to celebrate.

Congratulations to our student winners:
- Za’miiaah McKnight, Christian Rich, Jaini Vargas Gomez, and Dyland Ventura from Mastery Schools Thomas Campus, who won the Fast Pitch competition with Auto-LOCK
- Nassata Gbapo from Mastery Schools Simon Gratz Campus, who won the Runner-up competition with GSTEP
- Sierra Hampton from Mastery Schools Pickett Campus who won the Most Improved Student competition with Glow Green

We were also proud to recognize Joel Barnett as NFTE’s Individual Volunteer of the Year for his outstanding commitment to supporting NFTE students in Philadelphia.

Thank you to our partners at Mastery Schools and everyone who helped make this event such a memorable celebration of youth entrepreneurship. 🚀

The future of entrepreneurship was on display at the Chicago Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase ✨

NFTE students pitched innovative business ideas in a fabulous space generously provided by @PayPal, a longtime NFTE partner committed to supporting the next generation of innovators.

Congratulations to our winners:
🥇 Malik Oladokun — Helply, an AI-powered platform connecting young people with community service opportunities
🥈 Jaylen Moore — Hydro Sleeve, a smart athletic sleeve that tracks hydration in real time
🥉 Navelle Drake — Beat Build, stylish hearing solutions designed to seamlessly integrate with modern technology

We also proudly honored:
🏆 Dr. Tom Lee (Holy Trinity High School) — Teacher of the Year
🏆 Stefon Towler — Individual Volunteer of the Year
🏆 Charles Schwab — Corporate Volunteer of the Year

Thank you to everyone helping empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The future of entrepreneurship was on display at the Chicago Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase ✨

NFTE students pitched innovative business ideas in a fabulous space generously provided by @PayPal, a longtime NFTE partner committed to supporting the next generation of innovators.

Congratulations to our winners:
🥇 Malik Oladokun — Helply, an AI-powered platform connecting young people with community service opportunities
🥈 Jaylen Moore — Hydro Sleeve, a smart athletic sleeve that tracks hydration in real time
🥉 Navelle Drake — Beat Build, stylish hearing solutions designed to seamlessly integrate with modern technology

We also proudly honored:
🏆 Dr. Tom Lee (Holy Trinity High School) — Teacher of the Year
🏆 Stefon Towler — Individual Volunteer of the Year
🏆 Charles Schwab — Corporate Volunteer of the Year

Thank you to everyone helping empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The future of entrepreneurship was on display at the Chicago Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase ✨

NFTE students pitched innovative business ideas in a fabulous space generously provided by @PayPal, a longtime NFTE partner committed to supporting the next generation of innovators.

Congratulations to our winners:
🥇 Malik Oladokun — Helply, an AI-powered platform connecting young people with community service opportunities
🥈 Jaylen Moore — Hydro Sleeve, a smart athletic sleeve that tracks hydration in real time
🥉 Navelle Drake — Beat Build, stylish hearing solutions designed to seamlessly integrate with modern technology

We also proudly honored:
🏆 Dr. Tom Lee (Holy Trinity High School) — Teacher of the Year
🏆 Stefon Towler — Individual Volunteer of the Year
🏆 Charles Schwab — Corporate Volunteer of the Year

Thank you to everyone helping empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Big ideas, bold pitches, and inspiring young entrepreneurs took center stage at the St. Louis Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase hosted at @trex.stlouis

Congratulations to our winners:
🥇 Jayla Moore, founder of Mindset — a storytelling platform helping youth build resilience through fictional and relatable stories, reflection, and anonymous engagement.
🥈 Mustafa Muni, founder of JumpStart Sports Academy — bringing after-school sports programs directly to schools.
🥉 Andre’a Hakins, founder of STL Bling — jewelry designed to help express mental health without words.

We also proudly honored Albie Mitchell of SSD South Technical High School as our Teacher of the Year for his incredible dedication to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. 👏

Thank you to everyone who helped make this showcase such an energizing celebration of innovation, creativity, and youth entrepreneurship in St. Louis!

Big ideas, bold pitches, and inspiring young entrepreneurs took center stage at the St. Louis Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase hosted at @trex.stlouis

Congratulations to our winners:
🥇 Jayla Moore, founder of Mindset — a storytelling platform helping youth build resilience through fictional and relatable stories, reflection, and anonymous engagement.
🥈 Mustafa Muni, founder of JumpStart Sports Academy — bringing after-school sports programs directly to schools.
🥉 Andre’a Hakins, founder of STL Bling — jewelry designed to help express mental health without words.

We also proudly honored Albie Mitchell of SSD South Technical High School as our Teacher of the Year for his incredible dedication to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. 👏

Thank you to everyone who helped make this showcase such an energizing celebration of innovation, creativity, and youth entrepreneurship in St. Louis!

Thrilled that my screenplay adaptation of GOODBYE HOMEBOY - the story of South Bronx special ed teacher Steve Mariotti and the gutsy teens who inspired him to found the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - is an AWARD WINNER in the Big Apple film Festival! Time to bring this inspiring story to the silver screen with our wonderful producer Richard Baratta🍿🎥 Every child deserves financial literacy education so they can make it in this world. Dear Steve, this is for you! ♥️

@nfte @steve.mariotti @sticksbaratta @bigapplefilmfestival

#teachermovie #nfte #entrepreneurshipeducation

Thrilled that my screenplay adaptation of GOODBYE HOMEBOY - the story of South Bronx special ed teacher Steve Mariotti and the gutsy teens who inspired him to found the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - is an AWARD WINNER in the Big Apple film Festival! Time to bring this inspiring story to the silver screen with our wonderful producer Richard Baratta🍿🎥 Every child deserves financial literacy education so they can make it in this world. Dear Steve, this is for you! ♥️

@nfte @steve.mariotti @sticksbaratta @bigapplefilmfestival

#teachermovie #nfte #entrepreneurshipeducation

Thrilled that my screenplay adaptation of GOODBYE HOMEBOY - the story of South Bronx special ed teacher Steve Mariotti and the gutsy teens who inspired him to found the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - is an AWARD WINNER in the Big Apple film Festival! Time to bring this inspiring story to the silver screen with our wonderful producer Richard Baratta🍿🎥 Every child deserves financial literacy education so they can make it in this world. Dear Steve, this is for you! ♥️

@nfte @steve.mariotti @sticksbaratta @bigapplefilmfestival

#teachermovie #nfte #entrepreneurshipeducation

We’re so grateful for the ways you support NFTE. Your input helps us grow, and with only 5 days left before it wraps up, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to share your feedback in the survey at the link in bio. Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

Thank you to @scj for their generous $10,000 grant supporting NFTE’s Aspiring Entrepreneurs Program in Chicago!

Through this partnership, students from under-resourced communities across the Midwest will gain access to entrepreneurship education, business plan development, mentorship, and real-world innovation experiences that empower them to pursue their dreams and create positive change in their communities.

We’re grateful for SC Johnson’s commitment to creating opportunity — and for investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs and changemakers. #SCJcares

Congratulations to the winners of the NFTE South Showcase! These young entrepreneurs impressed judges with innovative business ideas, strong storytelling, and entrepreneurial spirit.

🥇 Gizelle Terrones from Career Institute North with Gigi’s Homers
🥈 Carlos Anez from Career Institute North with Powerful AI Hydration Bottle
🥉 Muna Dukes from Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted with Aiyana

Gizelle and Carlos will go on to represent the South at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge this fall! 🚀

We also celebrated our Entrepreneurship 2 competition winners:
🥇 Volley Connect — Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted
🥈 Flash Cloak — Bryan Adams High School
🥉 NostalJar — Career Institute East

A huge thank you to Comerica Bank for hosting this incredible event and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to the winners of the NFTE South Showcase! These young entrepreneurs impressed judges with innovative business ideas, strong storytelling, and entrepreneurial spirit.

🥇 Gizelle Terrones from Career Institute North with Gigi’s Homers
🥈 Carlos Anez from Career Institute North with Powerful AI Hydration Bottle
🥉 Muna Dukes from Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted with Aiyana

Gizelle and Carlos will go on to represent the South at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge this fall! 🚀

We also celebrated our Entrepreneurship 2 competition winners:
🥇 Volley Connect — Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted
🥈 Flash Cloak — Bryan Adams High School
🥉 NostalJar — Career Institute East

A huge thank you to Comerica Bank for hosting this incredible event and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Congratulations to the winners of the NFTE South Showcase! These young entrepreneurs impressed judges with innovative business ideas, strong storytelling, and entrepreneurial spirit.

🥇 Gizelle Terrones from Career Institute North with Gigi’s Homers
🥈 Carlos Anez from Career Institute North with Powerful AI Hydration Bottle
🥉 Muna Dukes from Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted with Aiyana

Gizelle and Carlos will go on to represent the South at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge this fall! 🚀

We also celebrated our Entrepreneurship 2 competition winners:
🥇 Volley Connect — Grand Prairie School for the Highly Gifted
🥈 Flash Cloak — Bryan Adams High School
🥉 NostalJar — Career Institute East

A huge thank you to Comerica Bank for hosting this incredible event and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Teachers are the reason entrepreneurship education comes to life.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the educators who go beyond the lesson plan—who challenge students to think differently, take risks, and see opportunity where others see obstacles. In NFTE classrooms across the country, teachers are helping young people build confidence, develop real-world skills, and imagine new futures for themselves.

From longtime champions to those just beginning their journey with NFTE, your impact is lasting and profound. You’re not just teaching business concepts—you’re shaping mindsets, opening doors, and fueling the next generation of innovators.

Thank you for showing up, pushing boundaries, and believing in what’s possible for every student.

Teachers are the reason entrepreneurship education comes to life.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the educators who go beyond the lesson plan—who challenge students to think differently, take risks, and see opportunity where others see obstacles. In NFTE classrooms across the country, teachers are helping young people build confidence, develop real-world skills, and imagine new futures for themselves.

From longtime champions to those just beginning their journey with NFTE, your impact is lasting and profound. You’re not just teaching business concepts—you’re shaping mindsets, opening doors, and fueling the next generation of innovators.

Thank you for showing up, pushing boundaries, and believing in what’s possible for every student.

Teachers are the reason entrepreneurship education comes to life.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating the educators who go beyond the lesson plan—who challenge students to think differently, take risks, and see opportunity where others see obstacles. In NFTE classrooms across the country, teachers are helping young people build confidence, develop real-world skills, and imagine new futures for themselves.

From longtime champions to those just beginning their journey with NFTE, your impact is lasting and profound. You’re not just teaching business concepts—you’re shaping mindsets, opening doors, and fueling the next generation of innovators.

Thank you for showing up, pushing boundaries, and believing in what’s possible for every student.

Thank you to the incredible 1,134 volunteers who made the NFTE World Series of Innovation 2025–2026 season possible. 💡🌍

From coaching teams to serving as judges, you didn’t just support the experience—you helped shape it. Your time, insight, and encouragement created a space where young people could think boldly, solve real-world challenges, and feel seen in the process.

And if you ask our volunteers, the impact goes both ways:

“Judging students’ creative ideas from different cultures and countries was amazing and inspiring… they are helping solve critical global challenges in their own ways.” — Mike Jortberg, Slalom Consulting

“As a volunteer I was inspired by the empathy, consideration, and ingenuity of the students… it was incredible to see how personal experiences sparked innovation.”

“Being part of this process reminded me that these students may become future leaders and changemakers—and that our feedback can help them feel seen, motivated, and empowered.”

“Every time that I volunteer with NFTE I am inspired by the youth that I encounter to keep dreaming & keep building.” — Shiela Clark

To everyone who gave their time and talent this season: thank you for helping the next generation turn ideas into action.

🏃‍♀️ Big news: NFTE is hitting the starting line!

We’re proud to announce that NFTE is an official charity partner of the TCS New York City Marathon, taking place on November 1, 2026—one of the world’s most iconic races, bringing together tens of thousands of runners and supporters from around the globe.

Now, you can be part of Team NFTE every step of the way.

Whether you choose to support the team or cheer on our runners, your involvement helps power entrepreneurship education for young people everywhere.
👉 Support Team NFTE or donate to a runner at nfte.com/2026NYCMarathon or at the link in bio.

Over the next few months, we’ll be spotlighting our three incredible runners—so stay tuned to meet the inspiring individuals taking on 26.2 miles for NFTE!

Deneen McDonald has spent more than 26 years in the classroom helping students see what’s possible for their futures.

As a NFTE educator, she brings entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and real-world skill-building together—empowering students to think critically, take risks, collaborate, and find their voice. Her classroom is about more than business plans; it’s about confidence, resilience, and giving every student a reason to believe in themselves.

From her early inspiration to teach to becoming a NFTE Global Teacher of the Year, her story is one of passion, purpose, and impact.

Read more about her journey and the lessons she brings to her students at the link in bio.

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte

@ocps_official is making young entrepreneurs, and I was one of them.

This is the story of how enrolling in an accounting class my senior year of high school changed the trajectory of my life.

Special shoutout to @mzrorawls for opening a life-changing door for Julian and I, and to @nfte for making this all a reality.

#education #teaching #entrepreneurship #founder #nfte