91ÖÆƬ³§

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 91ÖÆƬ³§ 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 91ÖÆƬ³§ 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 91ÖÆƬ³§ State University’s commitment to fostering innovation and leadership.

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

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