Rolling Meadows High entrepreneurs win pitch contest

A team of Rolling Meadows High School entrepreneurs on May 22 won $2,500 after impressing judges with their innovative business venture — an app that helps children with poor saving and spending habits.

The group, Penny Planner, won the funds at Northwest Suburban High School District 214's Startup Showcase, which gives students from six high schools the opportunity to pitch their business ventures following a year's worth of critical thinking, collaboration and innovation in the district's entrepreneurship program.

Penny Planner is an app that aims to create a more stable financial future for children and give back to the community by teaching them social responsibility. Team members include Rosalin Stubing, Haley Hintz, Abbey Owen, Megi Zaimi and Mario Puglia.

The $2,500, funded by the District 214 Education Foundation, will go toward the students' postsecondary plans.

Chicago area entrepreneurs Christen Carter, Mara Hauser, Robert Metzger, Larry Moats, Greg Sweigert and Max Temkin served as judges during the pitch competition. The event was emceed by WBEZ Chicago Public Media reporter Michael Puente.

The District 214 entrepreneurship program, launched in 2015, has already helped students turn their ideas into reality. Over the last two years, Wheeling High School students have raised $23,000 in a Kickstarter campaign for their innovative clip that helps gym-goers secure their weights.

And Buffalo Grove High School students developed a unique deskunking kit for dogs that is now sold in select Ace Hardware stores and on Amazon.

The program relies on the expertise of local partners with professional roots in a variety of areas — from marketing and branding to finance and business development — who co-teach alongside District 214 teachers to deliver relevant education.

At the Startup Showcase, students also had the opportunity to network with the judges, and attendees had the opportunity to view other student entrepreneurial work.

To learn more about the Startup Showcase, visit www.startupshowcase.org.