Bold ideas from 6 local students are among just 60 semifinalist submissions selected from over 3,700 nationwide to pitch at the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, June 15-16 in downtown Flint.

FLINT, Mich., June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Six students from Pennsylvania have been selected as semifinalists in the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, a national pitch competition for K-12 students.

More than 5,300 young people from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. submitted over 3,700 business ideas and social solutions to the Challenge. From those entries, 1,500 submissions were selected in the first round. Now, the creators behind the top 60 ideas are advancing to compete at a live national event in Flint, Michigan next week.

The Pennsylvania semifinalists and their ideas are:

LightoPro: AI Learning Buddy on Your Desk — Antarikxa Das (2nd Grade, Marshall Elementary School, business pitch): An AI-powered desktop learning assistant that uses a camera and projector to provide real-time, step-by-step guidance directly on a student’s work, helping children learn independently.

Advancing Bridges with Piezoelectric Technology — Miles Cheng and Vasudev Nambulli (6th Grade, South Fayette Middle School, business pitch): A smart infrastructure system that uses self-powered piezoelectric sensors to continuously monitor bridge stress and vibrations, helping detect structural issues before they become safety hazards.

Operation Agua: Aqua Anchor — Anushiya Ramakrishnan and Laalitya Sagi (7th Grade, South Fayette Middle School, social pitch): A nonprofit initiative that uses sensor-activated shoreline collection systems to capture ocean-bound trash and reduce water pollution before it reaches the sea.

Verity — Elena Pappas (10th Grade, Germantown Friends School, social pitch): A student wellness app that predicts stress levels from academic and lifestyle habits and provides personalized recommendations to help prevent burnout before it happens.

As semifinalists, each project will be awarded $5,000. The students will pitch live in front of judges during the final competition June 15-16 in Flint.

Funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation as part of its centennial celebration, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is administered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in collaboration with VentureLab, Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), the Afterschool Alliance, Collaborative Communications and the 50 State Afterschool Network. The Challenge is designed to shine a light on entrepreneurship education as a meaningful way to help students build skills they need to navigate and shape the future.

Learn more about the Mott Million Dollar Challenge and explore semifinalist ideas at https://mottmillion.org/60-semifinalist-pitches/.

Contact:
Jen Peters
peters@collaborativecommunications.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/six-pennsylvania-students-advance-to-national-finals-of-the-mott-million-dollar-challenge-in-flint-michigan-302797223.html

SOURCE Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Bold ideas from 2 local students are among just 60 semifinalist submissions selected from over 3,700 nationwide to pitch at the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, June 15-16 in downtown Flint.

FLINT, Mich., June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Two students from Washington have been selected as semifinalists in the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, a national pitch competition for K-12 students.

More than 5,300 young people from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. submitted over 3,700 business ideas and social solutions to the Challenge. From those entries, 1,500 submissions were selected in the first round. Now, the creators behind the top 60 ideas are advancing to compete at a live national event in Flint, Michigan next week.

The Washington semifinalists and their ideas are:

MagicVerse-Kids, A Universe of First Creations — Isha Sharma (6th Grade, Beaver Lake Middle School, business pitch): A platform that partners with daycares to use AI to transform children’s artwork into digital keepsakes, scrapbooks, and personalized products, helping families preserve creative memories.

PureDrain — Kiren Makam (8th Grade, Tyee Middle School, social pitch): A portable storm drain filtration system that captures pollutants in runoff before they enter local ecosystems, helping protect forests and reduce the spread of invasive species.

As semifinalists, each project will be awarded $5,000. The students will pitch live in front of judges during the final competition June 15-16 in Flint.

Funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation as part of its centennial celebration, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is administered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in collaboration with VentureLab, Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), the Afterschool Alliance, Collaborative Communications and the 50 State Afterschool Network. The Challenge is designed to shine a light on entrepreneurship education as a meaningful way to help students build skills they need to navigate and shape the future.

Learn more about the Mott Million Dollar Challenge and explore semifinalist ideas at https://mottmillion.org/60-semifinalist-pitches/.

Contact:
Jen Peters
peters@collaborativecommunications.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-washington-students-advance-to-national-finals-of-the-mott-million-dollar-challenge-in-flint-michigan-302797225.html

SOURCE Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Bold ideas from two local students are among just 60 semifinalist submissions selected from over 3,700 nationwide to pitch at the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, June 15-16 in downtown Flint.

FLINT, Mich., June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Two students from Virginia have been selected as semifinalists in the Mott Million Dollar Challenge, a national pitch competition for K-12 students.

More than 5,300 young people from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. submitted over 3,700 business ideas and social solutions to the Challenge. From those entries, 1,500 submissions were selected in the first round. Now, the creators behind the top 60 ideas are advancing to compete at a live national event in Flint, Michigan next week.

The Virginia semifinalists and their ideas are:

Carmunication — Lailah Moore (4th Grade, Nysmith School, business pitch): A vehicle-to-vehicle messaging system that allows nearby drivers to send safety alerts about issues such as open gas caps, broken lights, or unsecured cargo, helping make roads safer through clear communication.

EngageAble — Emily Amidon (6th Grade, Nysmith School, social pitch): A social venture that uses customizable 3D-printed fidget devices to help seniors maintain fine motor skills, cognitive engagement and independence as they age.

As semifinalists, each project will be awarded $5,000. The students will pitch live in front of judges during the final competition June 15-16 in Flint.

Funded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation as part of its centennial celebration, the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is administered by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in collaboration with VentureLab, Young Entrepreneur Institute (YEI), the Afterschool Alliance, Collaborative Communications and the 50 State Afterschool Network. The Challenge is designed to shine a light on entrepreneurship education as a meaningful way to help students build skills they need to navigate and shape the future.

Learn more about the Mott Million Dollar Challenge and explore semifinalist ideas at https://mottmillion.org/60-semifinalist-pitches/.

Contact:
Jen Peters
peters@collaborativecommunications.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/two-virginia-students-advance-to-national-finals-of-the-mott-million-dollar-challenge-in-flint-michigan-302797232.html

SOURCE Charles Stewart Mott Foundation