EPCHS Sister Act Wins High School Business Skills Competition

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- A pair of sisters grabbed top honors at the High School Business Competition and put Evergreen Park Community High School on the map. Haley and Hannah Ortell beat out competitors from eight other high schools with their “Better Beverage Coaster” at the shark tank-like competition hosted by Moraine Valley Community College on March 8.

Students were asked to create a fictional business and give a professional presentation (just like in real life) to a panel of judges, or sharks, in front of a camera crew. In exchange for money, the budding high school entrepreneurs offered a percentage of business ownership to the sharks. In past years, students pitched apps for music lessons, a hair care monthly, mailer boxes, food trucks and trucking logistics companies.

When given the assignment, the two sisters struggled to come up with an idea for the competition when they were smacked by inspiration by their shared love for iced coffee.

“To go along with something we love, there was something we hated -- warm, watered down iced coffee,” Haley said. “We thought of a problem that people have and came up with a solution. We also kept in mind people who drink hot coffee and tea, considering how popular those beverages are. We figured a duo purpose device would benefit multiple age groups of people.”

The sisters came up with the “Better Beverage Coaster” to keep any beverage, cold or hot, at the perfect temperature “so people at school or in the office didn’t have to worry about wasting money, time and product,” Haley said.

Haley and Hannah took first place, the first time an EPCHS team grabbed top honors in the competition. The sisters won a traveling plaque that will be displayed prominently in the halls of EPCHS for the next year, as well as medals for the top three teams.

EPCHS business teacher Scott Pasek said the school has been involved with the competition for the past five years at Moraine Valley. He teaches both girls in his Introduction to Business class.

“Haley and Hannah are very hard working students that have never given less than their best effort,” Pasek said. “I have known Haley since she was a freshman through Future Business Leaders of America, she is also looking to become a special education teacher in the future, so she took the education internship class at the high school as well as the AERO class, helping students with special needs.”