Shark Tank Style Event Will Feature Student Teams from Middle & High Schools

The Redmond Education Foundation is set to host the first ever Teen Tank student pitch event on May 7 at Redmond High School.

The event will feature teams from every middle and high school in Redmond School District as they pitch their ideas to a panel of guest judges. Students will pitch social, business and community focused projects to compete for the grand prize of $2,500 to execute their project.

Supporting Redmond School Students

Mid Oregon is excited to be a sponsor to support this inaugural event. This student version of “Shark Tank” fits in very well with our priorities of schools, students, community and business. Our longtime Redmond branch loan officer Jenny Kanoff also serves on the Redmond Education Foundation (REF) board of directors.

Other partner organizations involved include BasX, Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods, Redmond Kiwanis, Redmond Dental Group, Vision Source, Central Oregon Truck Company, Umpqua Bank of Redmond and Amber Wilson, Mortgage Loan Officer with Umpqua Bank.

Teen Tank Event Open to the Community

The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Redmond High School. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at a discounted rate of $5 per person in advance at www.redmondedfoundation.org. Tickets will also be sold at the door at $7 per person. All proceeds will benefit Redmond Education Foundation.

Attendees will enjoy live music performed by the RHS Jazz Ensemble and light refreshments made by the culinary program at Ridgeview High School. Michael Leland from Central Oregon Sparrow Clubs will serve as master of ceremonies.

Guest judges for the event include:

  • Anne Graham, Redmond City Councilor
  • Julie Leutschaft from Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods
  • Andrew Gunther from Animal Welfare Approved
  • Matthew Tobolski from BasX Solutions
  • Anna Higgins from High Desert Education Service District

Julie Leutschaft, Vice President of Sales & Business for Straw Propellar Gourmet Foods and event judge, shared key points about the event.

“Straw Propeller Gourmet Foods is honored to be part of this event and we look forward to hearing the innovative ideas presented by students in the Redmond School District. We are excited to serve on the judging panel and we believe this is the start of something really great in our community. It is so important for youth to have a venue like this to express their creative ideas and we are inspired that the Redmond Education Foundation, the school district and business community have come together in support of the students to make this happen.”

For questions or more information, please contact Lisa Shropshire, Executive Director of REF, at 503-307-2436.

About the Redmond Education Foundation

The Mission of the Redmond Education Foundation is to promote and enhance excellence in the education in our community by providing independent financial support for creative, innovative and relevant programs. The Foundation exists to assist students from within the Redmond School District communities reach their highest potential, enabling them to have a positive and lasting impact as they enter society.