Two 10th-graders from Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology had a bright idea about how to improve rideshares — and ended up winning $5,000.
“The idea was that most issues that rideshares have had were human errors, so why not use AI drivers instead?” explained Angel Unaegbu.
She and a classmate, Adrianna Brown, learned the basics of artificial intelligence and how it can make a greater impact on the world. With the help of their teacher and a mentor with real-world professional experience, Angel and Adrianna then crafted a pitch to use the Cadillac Lyriq as a base model for the autonomous rideshare vehicle.
The experience – and the prize money – are real, but that winning idea is, for now, just an idea. Angel and Adrianna took part in the KPMG AI Business Revolution Challenge, part of a 100% FREE online learning platform, where high school students can develop in-demand, resume-ready skills, via real-world industry projects, while receiving mentor feedback.
The digital innovation, KnoPro, is powered by national education non-profit, NAF – and the Challenges are ongoing. High school students can also participate in daily Skillbuilders and monthly industry-sponsored Challenges, similar to the one the Southfield students won. Second place for this Challenge went to Justin Han of Detroit Country Day School, while third place went to Kevin Martin of John J. Pershing High School.
Students can participate in daily contests and monthly industry-sponsored Challenges.
Southfield teacher, Lakeza Ball, who coached the winning team, used this NAF KnoPro Challenge to supplement the Principles of Information Technology course that she teaches. She said the KnoPro Challenge has spurred more students to learn about how businesses use AI.
Ball said this experience helped all her students see beyond the common or regular uses of AI, such as editing or writing papers, and see the potential in their future careers.
“It gave them valuable exposure and experience,” she said. “They learned a different way of applying AI and saw how it can be practiced in businesses. Without this project, they would not have gained that insight.”
Most importantly, Ball said, the Challenge takes relevant topics that students usually read about in a book and gives them real-world experience with it.
“That’s what I love about it,” said Ball, who also teaches algebra. “And they have an opportunity to interact with industry professionals.”
Both Ball and the students said the Challenge also helped them hone soft (or Future Ready) skills, like communication and collaboration.
“I learned how to enable people to brainstorm with me rather than just on my own,” said Adrianna, adding that she also learned “not to overthink and gained experience with pitching, as well as feeling good about my work.”
As for the prize money, both students plan to save it for their futures – and they’ll be adding “KnoPro Challenge winner” to their resumes and college applications.
“I think this experience just goes to show that I can be successful,” said Adrianna. “I will also be able to articulate how I’ve developed my problem-solving and teamwork skills. Overall, it was an amazing opportunity!”
High school students who dream of making a difference while building something extraordinary have another chance to share their best ideas — and win a $10,000 cash prize! The Social Entrepreneurship Challenge for Teen Changemakers, sponsored by the Fleischer Scholars Foundation, runs through February 23, 2025.
The Social Entrepreneurship Challenge for Teen Changemakers runs through February 23, 2025.
In this Challenge, high school students will tackle a social issue like homelessness, accessibility, or rainforest protection, by developing a new product, service or business idea that creates real impact. Dive into the exciting world of social entrepreneurship, where innovation meets purpose, and gain job-ready skills to set you up for success.
Live KnoPro Skillbuilder.
Interested students are asked to create a 3-to-5-minute video pitch for a chance to win a cash prize from the Fleischer Scholars Foundation and bring their big idea to life! Students will address the question: What problem, big or small, inspires you to take action, and how would you solve it as a social entrepreneur?
The first three winners or teams will share a $10,000 prize pool (first place, $5,000; second place, $3,000; third place, $2,000).
Learn more at www.knopro.org.
About NAF: NAF addresses the economic and social disparities that have marginalized too many high school students and their communities by bringing schools and businesses together to better prepare students for college, career, and future success. Visit www.naf.org to learn more.