Students from the Greater Hazleton area made a strong showing at this year’s tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition, earning top honors at the recent Awards Ceremony. Their success reflects the region’s growing culture of innovation and the entrepreneurial spirit of its youth.

Sharan Parikh and Rishi Patel, students at MMI Preparatory School, took home first place with their innovative venture, HealthHue – a biodegradable, infection-detecting bandage made from sustainable materials. Judges were impressed by the product’s combination of healthcare innovation and environmental consciousness. Their win also marks the first time in competition history a regional high school maintained back-to-back champions.

Fellow MMI student Kiyan Paknezhad earned third place for his project, EmPower – a 3D-printed, myoelectric prosthetic hand named the MK1 H.A.N.D. Designed to provide full finger mobility and customizable features at a lower cost, EmPower aims to make advanced prosthetics more accessible to those in need.

The region also celebrated a repeat win in the Big Idea Essay Competition, with Gabriel Garcia-Adon of Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences earning first place for the second year in a row. His essay offered a compelling perspective on the value of human-centered skills in an increasingly automated world. MMI Preparatory School students also secured strong finishes in the essay competition, with Sharan Parikh taking second place and Kendall Orozco placing third.

With multiple students from both MMI Preparatory School and Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences advancing to the finals, this year’s results highlight the depth of talent among Greater Hazleton’s emerging innovators.

The tecBRIDGE High School Business Plan Competition invites students across Northeastern Pennsylvania to develop and pitch original business ideas, rewarding creativity, strategic thinking, and presentation skills. Advancing to the final rounds is a significant achievement.

Greater Hazleton-area finalist this year also included the 2024 competition winner, Corey Buchman of MMI Preparatory School, who presented a new venture - LawnEase, an on-demand lawn care platform connecting homeowners with local service providers.

This year’s competition also marked a meaningful milestone for the Greater Hazleton entrepreneurial community as Jocelyn Sterenchock, Director of Economic Development for CAN DO, Inc was honored as the 2025 Bill McNally Mentor of the Year. Since 2018, Sterenchock has guided students of the Greater Hazleton are to multiple finalist and winning placements. Her recognition reflects a long-standing dedication to mentoring young innovators and nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship throughout Greater Hazleton.

“We are so incredibly proud of these students and their accomplishments,” said Sterenchock. “They truly are a testament to the future of innovation within our community.”

The continued success of Hazleton-area students in the tecBRIDGE competition underscores the strength of the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem—supported by the CAN BE Innovation Center and other member of The Hazleton Innovation Collaborative (THInC).

To learn more about CAN BE and its initiatives to support the next generation of entrepreneurs, visit canbe.biz or contact CAN DO Program Coordinator, Ana Perez at (570) 455-1508.