High School Innovation Contest Application Deadline is Monday, April 1

Residences at Vantage Point is sponsoring an innovation contest with cash prizes for Howard County high school students. The retirement community in Downtown Columbia is accepting applications from students in grades 9-12 who want to participate in its Big Idea Competition and pitch their idea to a panel of resident judges for a chance at monetary awards.

The contest, which is based on the television show, Shark Tank, will enable students to apply their educational experiences to issues affecting today’s society while providing them access to potential mentors, sponsors, contacts and prize money.

Students are asked to present an idea – concept, service, solution, initiative, product, app or other – to address a critical issue such as cyber technology and security, clean water, air, energy and environment, health, nutrition, food insecurity, the needs of senior citizens, sport safety, sustainability, education, community improvement and other areas.

Individuals and teams of up to 5 members are asked to submit an on-line entry form by April 1, that summarizes their Big Idea. Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges made up of Vantage Point residents with distinguished careers in government, industry, science, engineering and education. Selected finalists will present their Big Ideas before the judges’ panel at Residences at Vantage Point on Saturday, April 27.

Entry forms can be found at RVP Big Idea Competition - Residences at Vantage Point (vantagepointresidences.org). Selected finalists will be notified by April 9, so they have time to prepare their presentations for the April 27 competition before Vantage Point residents, applicants’ guests and interested members of the public.

For more information about the Big Idea Competition, see https:www.vantagepointresidences.org/rvp-big-idea-competition/.