ABERDEEN, S.D.– The 2024 BIG Idea Competition celebrated entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking among high school students, culminating in an awards ceremony on December 11 at Northern State University. This year’s competition drew an impressive 283 entries from 377 students representing 66 schools.

For the second consecutive year, the event featured a separate virtual competition for finalists outside South Dakota, judged independently with dedicated prizes. A total of over $50,000 in cash and scholarships was awarded across both competitions.

South Dakota Winners

  • 1st Place: Greyson Forster of Howard, with "Resto Rides," an e-commerce business offering new and used powersports parts. Prize: $1,000 cash and $2,500 scholarships to Northern State University (NSU), Dakota State University (DSU), and the University of South Dakota (USD).
  • 2nd Place: Ashley Haven of Northwestern High School, for "Cab Shine Solutions," a detailing service for agricultural equipment. Prize: $500 cash and $2,000 scholarships to NSU, DSU, and USD.
  • 3rd Place: Kelsey Lehr of Edmunds Central High School, with "The Grass Whisperer," a lawn care service. Prize: $250 cash and $1,500 scholarships to NSU, DSU, and USD.

Remaining South Dakota finalists received $100 cash and a $1,000 scholarship to NSU.

Out-of-State Winners

  • 1st Place: Syon Aggarwal of Johnston High School (Iowa), for "DIAL," an AI-powered lung diagnostic tool.
  • 2nd Place: Siona Pramoda and Manav Pulluru, for "Know.Period," a smart sanitary napkin detecting health biomarkers.
  • 3rd Place: Shawn Choi, Jeremiah Park, and Ethan Kim of California, with "Involvium," a social network for extracurricular engagement.

Special Category Winners

  • Wellness Award: NeuroStep, a smart insole for Alzheimer’s detection, by Morgan Walia-Peters.
  • Agriculture Innovation Award: Prairie Protection LLC, by Ethan Koopman, focusing on sustainable soil management.
  • Hometown Business Award: Bright Horizons, a childcare service by Aberdeen Central High School students.
  • Makers Award: Easy Tool, a portable toolbox with charging features by Owen Hoeft.

These achievements underscore the creativity and ambition of young entrepreneurs, and the competition reflects Northern State University’s commitment to fostering innovation and leadership.

For more information about the competition and its winners, visit www.BIGIdeaSD.com.

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