FDHS Team Wins 'Shark Tank'-Inspired Contest

Three enterprising students from Frederick Douglass High School – Claire Elliott, Jillian Downey, and Piper Stocking – earned top honors in a local “Entrepreneurial Showdown” sponsored by 250Lex and Toyota. Their achievement was particularly impressive as they were the only high school participants, and they beat out teams from the University of Kentucky, host Transylvania University, and Bluegrass Community & Technical College. 

The students’ business concept, centered around creating apparel with positive and thought-provoking messages, resonated with the judges. Shirts featuring phrases like “You are So Loved” are designed to spark conversation and subtly promote mental well-being. Jillian highlighted the inherent conversational aspect of apparel, while Piper emphasized the messages’ potential to offer encouragement.  

“Those girls spoke with such confidence!  What an accomplishment for them to beat college-level competition. Kudos to the Academies of Frederick Douglass for the tremendous amount of support and professional development they provide their students,” said  Amanda Wickersham, director of Career & Technical Education in Fayette County Public Schools.  

Operating the burgeoning business from their homes, the young women manage a production setup using a Cricut machine amid stacks of T-shirts. Claire playfully described the environment as “beautiful chaos,” reflecting their collaborative energy.  

The students expressed satisfaction in seeing their hard work rewarded and acknowledged the guidance of their teachers. They plan to use the $2,500 prize money to buy a printing machine – a key investment for enhancing their production efficiency and fostering business growth.