Mount's 5th Cohort Competes in LionWorks "Shark Tank" Competition

Mount St. Dominic Academy’s fifth cohort of seniors embraced their entrepreneurial spirit this fall at the annual LionWorks “Shark Tank” competition, hosted by the Leonidas Foundation. Two scholarships were awarded to the top teams, with TEMPACK taking first place and receiving a $5,000 scholarship and StickyWrap securing a strong second and being awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

About the L.E.O. Program

Mount St. Dominic Academy is the second school in New Jersey, and the first all-girls school, selected for the Leonidas Foundation’s L.E.O. Program. This two-year initiative challenges students through a competitive application process and provides mentorship from entrepreneurs and business leaders. Participants learn about ideation, market research, and business plan development, attend lectures, visit organizations like UPS, and take part in a leadership conference in Washington, D.C. The program culminates in the LionWorks "Shark Tank" Competition, where winners receive college scholarships.

The program honors Leonidas “Leo” Vagias, a Don Bosco Prep alumnus who tragically passed away in 2016, and is the brother of Mount alumna Alexandra Vagias ’18. The Leonidas Foundation, established in his memory, aims to cultivate business-minded leaders during their junior and senior years.

Competition Highlights

Mrs. Christine Victori, who teaches the course and hosted the event, opened the night by explaining, “The LEO program is designed to empower young women with leadership skills and confidence, preparing them to challenge gender inequities and excel in professional spaces. Through the program, classrooms transform into entrepreneurial incubators, welcoming guest speakers and mentors who inspire and guide students on their journey to becoming future changemakers.”

She also expressed gratitude to the Leonidas Foundation for sponsoring the first-place scholarship and to an anonymous Mount alumna who sponsored the second-place award. Rhonda Clarke, Executive Director of the Leonidas Foundation, shared, “It is an honor to partner with the Mount to provide the L.E.O. program to these students, offering them the opportunity to think outside the box and study real-world concepts that will help prepare them to be socially responsible business leaders.”

The competition featured six teams, each pitching their innovative products to a panel of "shark" investor judges, including: Dr. Alberta Tamika Quick – Founder/CEO, Leading Young Women, Inc.; Jani White – Founder, Prepared to Speak, LLC; Kyong Lee – Program Director, Brooklyn Robot Foundry; and Remi C. Leibovic, MCM – Founder & Social Media Communication Specialist, RCL Media.

Following the presentations, each team answered judges’ questions and received valuable feedback before the final winners were selected.

The two winners were TEMPACK and runner-up Sticky Wrap. Each group won scholarship money to use to fund their college education. Mary Hladik, a founding member of TEMPACK, described the process of developing their product, noting that, “Creating our business was a completely new experience for all of us. It wasn’t just about developing the product; we had to consider every aspect of running a business. Communication was a key factor for us… We were constantly adapting our pitch and refining our product, even up until the very last day. Whether it was brainstorming new ideas to improve our product or identifying its flaws, it was an ongoing learning process. From the L.E.O. Program and the LionWorks experience, we learned the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and how every part of a business, from the idea to the pitch, requires continuous improvement and careful attention.”

Member of the winning team TEMPACK, Maya Tanella, reflected on her experience, saying, “Being in LEO brings so many opportunities beyond just product development. It teaches communication, networking, and the ability to step out of your comfort zone and think on the spot. The skills I’ve gained will help me in both school and my future career.”

The experience of competing and winning in the LionWorks Shark Tank has also given her newfound confidence. “Winning the competition made the experience even more rewarding,” Tanella added. “I now feel more comfortable presenting in front of a crowd, and I’m excited for the next round against Don Bosco, where we’ll compete for a $10,000 scholarship.”

This Year’s L.E.O. Teams & Innovations:

ReFill and ReVive by ReNu Beauty – A sustainable beauty solution that offers refillable makeup bottles at in-store kiosks, reducing waste and saving customers money. Team: Abigail Amaty, Nicky Higgins, and Melia Hillman.

NeuroTrack Pro – A smart arm patch designed for dementia patients, tracking health stats, location, and medication reminders while connecting to a caregiver-friendly app. Team: Liana Drejaj, Sabrina Heany, Regina Salandra, Evangelia Stoupakis.

SolarCharge by SolarBoost – A solar-powered portable charger small enough to fit on a keychain, providing an eco-friendly and convenient way to keep devices powered anywhere. Team: Annaliese Abboud, Jayden DeSliva, Keira Manning, and Mackenzie Williamson.

StickyWrap – An eco-friendly wrapping paper with a built-in adhesive layer, eliminating the need for tape and making gift-wrapping faster and more efficient. Team: Sam Fio Rito, Sophia Liwanag, Alessia Manna, and Keira Tagliareni.

TEMPACK – A battery-powered, temperature-controlled food container that keeps meals hot or cold for hours, ideal for busy families and travelers. Team: Nyah Adiedo, Mary Hladik, Maya Tanella, and Kate Wohlgemuth.

TrendBlend – A fashion app that connects users to the latest trends and websites while offering a virtual closet feature to mix and match outfits digitally. Team: Vesela Busch, Mattea Cerbo, Isabella Dressler, and Katya Ellenis.

Mary Hladik, a member of TEMPACK, reflected on the team's journey, highlighting how each of the four members brought unique strengths—whether in finance, creativity, or marketing. "Creating our business was an entirely new experience," she shared. It went beyond product development, requiring them to think through every aspect of running a business. "We were constantly refining our pitch and improving our product, even up until the very last day," she explained. The process involved brainstorming, problem-solving, and adapting to challenges along the way. Through the L.E.O. Program and LionWorks experience, she gained valuable insights into collaboration, adaptability, and the importance of continuous improvement in every stage of a business, from concept to final presentation.

Mount St. Dominic Academy Principal Dr. Karen D’Avino said, “The Mount St. Dominic community is incredibly proud of all the students who participated in this year’s competition. Their creativity, hard work, and entrepreneurial spirit were on full display, and the future looks bright for these young innovators!”

ABOUT MOUNT ST. DOMINIC ACADEMY

Mount St. Dominic Academy, founded in 1892 by the Sisters of St. Dominic, is an independent Catholic college preparatory school educating young women from diverse backgrounds.

MSDA offers signature programs such as the L.E.O. Entrepreneurship Program, Health Sciences and Social Justice Concentrations, and the Directed Research Senior Capstone, providing real-world experience for future success.

The Mount has earned top honors, including the 2024 College Board AP School Honor Roll “Gold with Access” and AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Awards for AP Computer Science A (2023) and AP Computer Science Principles (2023, 2024). It also received Gold Medals in the 2023 and 2024 Best of Essex contests for Best Private High School and an A+ rating on Niche’s 2024 Best Schools list, awarded to only 2.5% of US schools.

One hundred percent of graduates are accepted to four-year colleges. The 60 graduates of the Class of 2024 earned over $13 million in scholarships and merit awards.

Rolling Admissions for the Class of 2029 has begun! Private Family tours and “Mountie for a Day” visits are available to current 8th graders and transfer students in Grades 9-11, or join us at our Spring Open House on April 2, 2025. Visit the Mount for more information.