Congratulations to our 2023 Teen Accelerate Winners, and to all of the finalists!

1st Place: [CodHers CLE] – Ella Witalec – Laurel School

2nd Place: Healing Through Harmonies – Anshul Sharma – University School

This year, in conjunction with Cleveland Leadership Center’s Accelerate competition, we created an opportunity for youth in grades 9th-12th to participate in, Teen Accelerate: Student Citizens Make Change. 12 Finalists were selected from dozens of entries and given the opportunity to pitch their idea live at the Huntington Convention Center on Feb. 23, 2023.

Prizes:

• The top winner won $1,000 plus a mentor from a partner organization to help them launch or expand their idea.
• The Runner-up won $500
• All finalists who pitch on Feb. 23 won $250

Finalists

Eco-Bricking

• Alyssa Valentine – Hawken School
• Gabby Robinson – Hawken School
• Jahna Harris – Hawken School

“I’m Fine” – Podcast

• Gabrielle Williams – Hawken School

Mental Health Matters

• Samantha Sunderhaft – Kenston High School

Occasio Jobs, LLC

• Seth Wojnar – St. Ignatius
• Young Kim – St. Ignatius
• Colin Schnitter – St. Ignatius

Ohio for Equity

• Jason Folk – Stow-Monroe Falls High School
• Sasha Turner – Hawken School
• Jaxon Farmer – Howland High School
• Ashton Spradling – Hawken School

Representation in Research

• Zaid Ashruf – University School

Ruby’s Retreat

• Ruby Richard – Shaker Heights High School

SchoolSwap

• Ben Elliott – University School
• Matthew McMahon – University School

Shoot For a Change

• Isabella Williams – Hubbard High School

The Anti-Grooming Initiative

• El Braunsdorf – Shaker Heights High School
• Isabel Mearini – Shaker Heights High School

Teen Accelerate was sponsored by Burton D. Morgan Foundation