Kiwanis award 3 UCS students grants in ‘Shark Tank’ competition

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Three Utica Community Schools students were awarded grants after they made winning pitches at the inaugural Kiwanis Pitch competition in March.

Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies junior Adeline Paul received a $10,000 grant and the Eisenhower High School team of juniors Katherine Farmer and Ava Nightingale received a $2,500 grant. The competition took the form of the television show “Shark Tank,” in which the students presented their community service projects to investors.

Paul said she will use the grant to create FIRST Lego League teams at all 25 UCS elementary schools. Nightingale and Farmer will provide peanut and tree nut food alternatives for the charity Blessings in a Backpack.

Paul said that being a part of the Kiwanis Pitch competition was an incredible experience.

“Mr. (Marc) Alexander, the president of the Utica-Shelby Kiwanis group had told us, ‘You’re in a room of investors collectively worth over $3 million.’ I met numerous CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs who completely changed my perspective on business. In fact, witnessing their passion for their work and how they treat entrepreneurship as an opportunity to enrich and give back to the community was eye-opening and has inspired me immensely,” she said.

With the support of the Utica Shelby Kiwanis Club, the winners are working to implement their projects.

Two informational sessions about the elementary robotics programs were scheduled in late May to show what FIRST Robotics is about.

Robert S. Monroe, superintendent of schools, said Paul’s work exemplifies the district’s goal of giving students an education that can lead them to change the world.

“We look forward to continuing to work with her to increase the opportunities of our students to be engaged in robotics. Her work will build an even stronger foundation at every UCS elementary school for students with a passion for science and engineering,” Monroe said.

Farmer and Nightingale are meeting with Blessings in a Backpack representatives to help increase food options for those with allergies, such as offering granola bars that are free of peanuts or tree nuts.

Blessings in a Backpack is a nonprofit organization that provides students in need with food for the weekend, when they do not have access to the free school breakfast and lunch programs.

Alexander, who in addition to being president of the Utica-Shelby Kiwanis is CEO of fundraising platform LiteRaise, said all the finalists had outstanding pitches, so Paul said it truly was an honor to be awarded first place.

“It’s driven me to work harder for my mission of making STEAM education accessible and widespread for our youth of today and (transforming) them into the successful leaders of tomorrow. And it’s certainly fueled my passion more than I could have ever imagined,” Paul said.