High Schoolers Pitch Businesses
Posted on October 27, 2026
More than 30 high school entrepreneurs from Mobile and Baldwin counties pitched their business ventures Oct. 23 in the Spark Pitch Competition, hosted by the Melton Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell College of Business.
The pitch contest marked the culmination of the Build-A-Bridge program, a free community initiative developed by the Melton Center that aims to bridge the gap between secondary and higher education. The program kicked off Oct. 2 with an intensive educational workshop where students, accompanied by high school educators, received hands-on training in market evaluation, business financing and concept creation from local entrepreneurs and investors.
Students from Murphy, Williamson, Vigor, Baldwin County, Citronelle, and Chickasaw high schools returned to campus to present their businesses for a share of $3,550 in prize money. Competitors were divided into existing business and conceptual business tracks, pitching through two rounds of competition evaluated by panels of judges.
University of South Alabama Executive Vice President and Provost Andi Kent, Ph.D. and Mitchell College of Business Dean Michael Capella, Ph.D. opened the awards ceremony, joining Melton Center faculty Donald Mosley, Jr., Ph.D. and Dr. Jennifer Zoghby, Ph.D. South’s mascot Southpaw also joined in the celebrations.
Williamson High School student enterprise Kay’s Creationz, a hair styling service tailored for teenagers, took first place and the $1,000 top prize in the existing business track. Curly Crew, representing Citronelle High School, earned first place and $500 in the conceptual business track for its design of a unique shower mirror.
In addition to prize funds, high school students who participate in the program and subsequently enroll at South are now eligible for a special scholarship dedicated to Build-A-Bridge graduates.
Competition Results
Existing Business Track
- 1st Place ($1,000): Kay's Creationz | Hair styling service for teenagers
- 2nd Place ($500): Vision | Website design and digital services
- 3rd Place ($250): Stylez by Marij | Beauty salon and lifestyle brand
- Honorable Mentions ($100 each): Janae's Crochet, Payload, Jay's Crochet
Conceptual Business Track
- 1st Place ($500): Curly Crew | Innovative shower mirror design
- 2nd Place ($250): Magnastop | Door stop solution
- 3rd Place ($150): Cooler Cans | Custom luxury koozies
- Honorable Mentions ($100 each): Apex Transit, Zest Juice, Bloom & Grace, Sirnotta's Creations, a food delivery service and a tuba mouthpiece warmer.
