Several area middle school and high school students showcased their innovative ideas around the state of Missouri at the Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs. The event highlighted the talent and creativity of Marshall middle school students and the four Saline County Career Center DECA students, demonstrating their potential as future entrepreneurs.

This competition not only highlights high school talent but also opens its doors to aspiring middle school participants in future events, fostering early entrepreneurial skills. The competition provided students with an opportunity to present exciting and creative ideas through an innovation pitch. Participants developed innovations with the potential to become profitable business ventures. The ICE Competition emphasized project-based learning, incorporating the 4 Cs: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication.

Students demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills by preparing comprehensive pitches and business/marketing campaigns for their innovations. A panel of judges evaluated the presentations based on creativity, feasibility, and overall impact at the middle school level and the high school level during the competition. Four Saline County Career Center DECA members earned recognition at the high school level for their innovative plans, with Ethan Russell securing 1st place with his ESR Artwork Start-Up Business Plan. Manny Suarez earned 2nd place for his M.M.T Math Tutoring Start-Up Business Plan, and Neidy Gonzalez and Ivan Lin achieved 3rd place with their Fruitti Buddie Box Innovation Pitch.

At the middle school level, Lia Cubero, Josephine Reinke, and Raegan Thompson presented their Nutrient Neutralizer Innovation Pitch, and Brady Grossenburg and Calvin Linsenbardt presented their Worldwide Whale Watcher Innovation Pitch.