THUNDER BAY – The finalists from Enter the Den were in full competition today at Superior Collegiate. Each student presented their business plan to a panel of ‘Dragons’ in the Thunder Bay Ventures competition. The judges were faced with a difficult choice as each of the students had solid plans and were ready to answer the questions asked of them by the ‘Dragons’.
The production was videoed by the students in the Grade Ten Media Arts class and then livestreamed on NetNewsledger. The production was actually knocked off-line at one point during the broadcast. A lightning strike knocked the Internet off at the school for about two minutes. That was the lightning bolt that hit the Hydro Building this afternoon.
The work of the staff and students at Superior Collegiate today helped to make the broadcast a success!
By the end of the day, the judges finally chose their final winner, although all of the students competing can be said to have won new respect for themselves, and for the process.
Phil Bystrican is this year’s Enter the Den grand prize winner. Phil is an iPhone, iPad, and Pod Touch app developer, who has been developing apps for over 2 years. He has worked on over 20 apps for numerous clients ranging from single developers, to international companies. Phil attends Sir Winston Churchill High School.
Phil’s business, Phil Bystrican Apps, focuses on creating intuitive and functional sports apps for the users of iOS devices.
John Golphy finished in second place. John is a self-professed country boy who grew up on HWY 61 by Sturgeon Bay Road. Despite moving to the city when he was in Grade 7, John completed his primary education at Valley Central Elementary school. His passion for welding began at a very young age when he was able to go out to the shop and work alongside his grandfather. Although he learned much of what he knows from his grandpa, he took his first welding class in grade 10 and he has continued to develop his trade. John is a student at Westgate.
Isaac Sauder was ranked third by the judges. Isaac has a business that recycles glass bottles and other glass into new products. Isaac is a Grade 10 Hammarskold high school student who enjoys cycling, wrestling and photography. Isaac is passionate about the environment and developing eco-friendly products and technology. It was his commitment to green living that led him to start his own recycled glass business iGLASS.
You can find Isaac’s products at several Thunder Bay businesses. Isaac is a Hammarskjold student.
The competition engaged with students from across the city’s high schools.
