JOHNSTON – Raneem Al Suwaidani, a fourth-year student at the Metropolitan Career and Technical Center (Metropolitan Met) in Providence, won the Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge and won $5,000. won a dollar scholarship. This contest is a business pitch contest for high school students run by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. Deputy Governor Sabina Matos.
The Entrepreneurship Challenge is presented by Citizen Financial Group, Inc., which also hosted the April 16 contest.
The Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge is Rhode Island’s first statewide business pitch competition for high school students, designed to encourage entrepreneurship and promote business ownership in the Ocean State. .
Through this initiative, students create and submit business plans, with the top five advancing to a live pitch competition. The venture into entrepreneurship was first undertaken by then-Lt. Gov. Daniel J. McKee took office in 2018, and it has been the agency’s signature event ever since.
“The five finalists in this year’s Entrepreneurship Challenge represent a bright future for Rhode Island’s small business community. The innovation, drive, and foresight these students exhibit are the hallmarks of great entrepreneurs. ” Matos said in a statement. “These scholarships are more than just hard-earned awards, they are investments in our state’s future.”
Raneem’s business, Lilypad, is a fully equipped food truck that can be rented by would-be restaurateurs to test their culinary ideas in the marketplace, according to a news release.
Lilypad was chosen from among five finalists by a panel of judges. Her team of four others advanced to the final round among dozens of applications from Rhode Island high school students and won their own scholarships.
Emma and Kate Dipardo of Providence Country Day School won second place and a $4,000 scholarship for their business, Anchor Cremation. Angel Bonga of the Metropolitan Museum of Art took third place and won her $2,500 scholarship for her own business, Angelic Twist. Cranston His Area Career & Technical His center Jordy Chacon won his fourth place and her $1,500 scholarship against his own business, Future His Stars Sports Complex . Matthew Spaziano of Scituate High School placed fifth and won his $1,000 scholarship to his business, Gas Ease.
“We were blown away by the ideas and innovation presented by Raneem and local teens,” Rhode Island Citizens President Keith Kelly said in a statement. “At Citizens, we are committed to helping develop the workforce of the future and ensuring they have access to the opportunities and resources they need to grow. We are proud to support them and provide them with scholarships to help them reach their potential.”
Funding for the scholarship is provided by charitable contributions from Citizens Bank and Credit Union of Rhode Island. It is also provided with support from other local businesses such as Bank Newport, Massey and Associates, Doctor’s Day Care, and the Rhode Island Association of Realtors. According to the release. The funds will be distributed through Millennial RI, a local nonprofit that encourages young professionals to build careers in Rhode Island.
“We remain committed to our core values of community, collaboration and service as we engage with the next generation of entrepreneurs at the Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge,” said Greenwood Credit Union. CEO Frederick Reinhardt said in a statement on behalf of the organization. Rhode Island Credit Union. “Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient Rhode Island for generations to come. We are committed to spearheading this impactful program. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos for her leadership.”
