On March 4, 2026, students from across Jackson County gathered at the Community Foundation of Jackson County to compete in the 15th annual Maverick Challenge.

The Maverick Challenge is a “Shark Tank” style competition where high schoolers pitch original business plans to a panel of local judges. This year, 56 teams started the competition, but only 11 finalists made it to the final oral presentations to compete for a share of $7,000 in prize money.

Leading the way for the Owls was junior Brooklyn Howell, who earned second place overall in the county. Her business, “Bridge WithIN” is a mental health app designed to help people in crisis by removing the barriers and stigma often associated with seeking help. For her impressive presentation, Brooklyn was awarded $1,500.

Other SHS students also placed in the top of the field:

• Lanie Booher tied for fourth place, winning $425 for her business idea, “Glam On the Go”.
• Lydia Holle and Juana Nicolas tied for fifth with “Fun Delivery” and will receive $300 total.
• Israel Luna and Hayato Hattori received participation awards for their project, “Lunar Lanes.”