Cristo Rey OKC business program teaches for the future

Cristo Rey OKC Catholic High School uses the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship curriculum each year to inspire students’ creativity and technological skills. Students are challenged to design and create fully functioning apps and products addressing needs they see in the community. The students showcase their entrepreneurial and app-building skills each year to esteemed judges in the community.  

This year’s NFTE showcase was March 31 where each student presented to six judges. The support of the businesses and individuals allows Cristo Rey students to engage with successful members of society and aspire to reach ambitious goals.  

The students’ innovation was able to shine as they presented products. One product was Green Snack fertilizer packaged uniquely for specific plants to Nature's Tainted, which depicted what would happen to animals if people continued to destroy the environment using hand-carved wooden figurines as symbols. 

Abel Campos Jr., Keionna Tubbs and Bianca Gallegos were the team of sophomores that created the app Clean Queens. The app allowed users to find places to volunteer cleaning up litter in their communities. 

The products and apps varied in causes. Each presentation included a full business plan. Students researched competitors, identified the target market and analyzed the gross margin percentage.

There were 3 winners per segment. First-place winners were Mariana Ramos with Green Snack and Christopher Cortez, Nikita Le and Kimberley Marshall with CWSP Tracker. The CWSP Tracker allows students to track information they need to succeed in the Corporate Work Study Program at Cristo Rey OKC. 

Cristo Rey OKC also teaches life courses such as Entrepreneurship and Start Up Tech. The project allows students to assess community needs and consider how to make an impact. NFTE is one of the many opportunities Cristo Rey OKC students are given allowing them to look toward their future careers and tangibly make a difference.