Five teams of students from four high schools in the Greater Philadelphia region recently competed in a business pitch challenge hosted by the Philadelphia Eagles and Firstrust Bank.

The competition marked the culmination of the Entrepreneurs Game Plan powered by the Science of Sport program, a digital learning platform implemented in 35 area high schools that uses case studies, interactive business simulations, and personal development activities to prepare students for a bright and prosperous future.

Schools from across the region submitted business plans, and the top five were selected to present their ideas at the Firstrust Bank Club at the Eagles’ stadium. The finalists included students from Central Bucks South High School, Cheltenham High School, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, and Science Leadership Academy.

The Sweet Dream Project — a nonprofit with a mission to brighten the hospital journey for pediatric patients by personalizing their hospital room, created by a two-time cancer survivor and student at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy — earned the top spot in the pitch challenge and scored $2,500 for the school.

The pitches were judged by a panel of executives from Firstrust and the Eagles, including Frank Gumienny, Chief Operating Officer of the Eagles; Peggy Leimkuhler, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Technology Officer at Firstrust Bank; and former Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant.

“We’re proud to have teamed up once again with Firstrust Bank to foster the next generation of business leaders and equip these young professionals with the foundations of entrepreneurship,” said Gumienny. “Entrepreneurs Game Plan serves as an opportunity for students to showcase their creative ideas and apply classroom skills to real-world experiences. We are inspired by the projects in this year’s competition and look forward to following the students’ respective business journeys.”

“At Firstrust, we’re passionate about giving people the foundation to succeed and cultivate prosperity — and that starts with financial literacy,” Leimkuhler. “Through the Entrepreneurs Game Plan, students gain real-world knowledge about managing money, building a business, and thinking like entrepreneurs. Watching them pitch their ideas with such confidence and creativity is inspiring, and it reinforces why this program is such a valuable investment in our future leaders.”

The other finalists received prize money for their schools:

• Linguage, an AI-powered platform for personalized English Language Learning, by students from Central Bucks South High School, placed second and received $1,500.
• Peak Performance Kitchen, a healthy food truck concept serving athletes at sports tournaments, created by students from Science Leadership Academy, placed third and received $1,000.

The following teams received an honorable mention and earned $500 each:

• Marino Surfwear, a sustainable fashion line, by students from Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
• Collegeship, a mobile app that helps students navigate the college application process, by students from Cheltenham High School.

All student participants also received Eagles and Firstrust swag and were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Eagles’ locker room and field.

In addition to developing a new business idea and pitch, through the Entrepreneurs Game Plan program, students explored how to save startup capital and balance a budget, what it means to be an entrepreneur, and how to recognize business opportunities.