City of Swan grant pays off as Ellenbrook Secondary College students win $5,000 statewide start-up competition

Community
Published on: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Ellenbrook Secondary College students have won a $5,000 statewide prize for their innovative idea to boost sustainability and local agriculture businesses.

Backed by a City of Swan grant, the ESC Year 9 students won Just Start IT, a competition that empowers high school students to create technology-enabled start-ups in collaboration with local businesses.

Throughout the 20-week program, students work with industry mentors to develop solutions to real world problems.

It gives them an opportunity to build on their skills in budgeting, marketing, public speaking, digital technology and more.

ESC’s entry, an app called Field2Fork, was designed to benefit producers and consumers by forming direct connections between them.

The app would give consumers access to affordable fresh produce, while allowing growers to reduce their surplus food waste.

The two-way platform could be particularly well suited to the Swan Valley region.

From 200 entries across WA, ESC emerged as the overall winner of the competition at the Just Start IT Gala in Perth last month.

The award was presented to Aceline, Agatha and Simar from ESC’s Year 9 Gifted and Talented Humanities and Social Science program.

“Our Gifted and Talented (GAT) program is underpinned by a mixture of traditional and unique education philosophies and approaches,” Nathan Brown, ESC Associate Principal, said.

“By providing GAT students with authentic, enriching and innovative learning experiences, we are ensuring these students will be successful 21st century global citizens and that they become the future leaders of our society.”

ESC was one of two public schools involved in the Just Start IT competition. 

The City provided a grant to the ESC Parents and Citizens (P&C) Association help the ESC students take part.

“The success of our students in the Just Start IT WA competition would not be possible without the City of Swan and the Ellenbrook Secondary College P&C,” Mr Brown said.

“We are thankful for the valuable contribution they make to the education of our students.”

 To learn more about the City’s Community Grant and Sponsorship program, visit www.swan.wa.gov.au/grants. 
 
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