Students from Munster High School won the inaugural Uthiverse StartUp Madness Business Pitch Tournament hosted March 30 by the Society of Innovators on the Purdue University Northwest Hammond campus.

Teams from Hammond Central, Lowell and Munster high schools pitched their ideas for the chance at $2,500 in seed funding from Uthiverse, an organization that allows youth to explore their creativity and prepare for adult life.

“It is always exciting to see students participate in events like this,” said Ken Patrick Barry, a Gary native and co-founder of Uthiverse, in a press release. “Some of our participants had never pitched in front of an audience before. They had their first taste. That means the next time they get to do something like this, they’ll be even better.”

Munster team members Josephine Pirok, Nabeel Rabie and Brooke Weatherly presented Scent Seal, which helps perfumes and body sprays last longer.

“Our whole team is passionate about this business so it’s really good to be seen and heard,” Pirok said. “We feel like we can actually make a difference in an industry that’s so vast.”

Caption: A team of Munster High School students took first place in the 2024 Uthiverse StartUp Madness Business Pitch Tournament hosted at Purdue University Northwest. From left: Uthiverse co-founder Nicole Barry; Munster High School students Nabeel Rabie and Josephine Pirok; and Uthiverse co-founder Ken Barry. (Provided by Society of Innovators at PNW)