Prep for Prep Students Expand Horizons Through Summer Programming 

Entrepreneurship Camp is a five-week summer program for rising eighth and ninth graders that looks at problem solving through a sustainability lens. Participants learned about the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their role in addressing world problems. The students then identified an issue that resonated with them and determined a viable solution that incorporated the SDGs.

At the end of the program, students participated in a business pitch competition. Shayan A. (XLV/Buckley), Tahleel A. (XLIV/Trinity), Awa T. (XLV/Horace Mann), and Elizabeth T C (XLIV/Avenues) were the winners. The quartet created the idea for M4NGO, a company that would offer accessible compositing in New York City. The team was also chosen as the winner of the overall summer program and received a $100 Amazon gift card.

Prep for Prep is grateful to Cambio Labs, which developed the curriculum and provided instruction for the program.

 

A business plan competition, held at the Lower Manhattan headquarters of Google, another IFE partner, marked the culmination of the program. Arjun D. (XLIII/Trinity), William G. (XLII/Allen-Stevenson ’22, Horace Mann), Alexander H. (XLIII/Andover), and Bailee T. (P9 XXXVI/Choate) made up the winning team. Their idea? Helios, a company committed to combating climate change by making it easier for homeowners to install solar panels. Their pitch earned the team $1,200 and each of them received a Google Pixel Tablet. We congratulate all our students for their incredible work innovating for a better future. 

 

Students in the Sotheby’s Art Academy had the chance to hone their creative skills with a business perspective, while gathering inspiration from New York City’s iconic museums and galleries. The summer program included guest speakers, a trip to the Guggenheim, a guided tour of the Met, the chance to create a mural at Freeman’s Alley in the Lower East Side, and more.

 

For their final project, students were tasked with developing a concept for a museum. From this prompt, working in small groups the students came up with three concepts—The Museum of Advertising, The Museum of Streetwear, and The Museum of Instruments. During a final presentation at Collegiate School, each group shared their development process including a 3D model of the museum and a budget breakdown 

 

The Public Policy Internships Project (PPIP) combines a nine-week internship with seminars each Wednesday for rising high school juniors and seniors. Their participation allows them to explore and contribute to New York City government and the public policy agenda more generally. 

 

The program concluded with live debates between six teams. The groups assembled arguments to address the impact of content versus comments in today’s social media landscape. In addition to these group debate projects, each student had the opportunity to intern with one of a variety of organizations, including NYC Health + Hospitals, the Office of New York State Senator Jabari Brisport (XXI), and the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. 

 

We are grateful to all of our alumni who volunteered their time this summer.