Peekskill Teen Vies for National Entrepreneur Award

Eighteen year old Peekskill High School graduate Oswal Perez, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of Oswal's Bags, is enjoying his first semester at Syracuse University, but he will be traveling to New York City next month in hopes of taking home the top prize of $25,000 at the Eleventh Annual National Youth Entrepreneur Challenge. The Challenge is presented by the non-profit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

The competition is a two step process with the first being an online promotional video contest where the winner will take home $2,500. Perez stars in his own 60 second pitch video promoting his backpack on the NFTE website at http://www.nfte.com/elevatorpitch2016. He needs more online votes to win the video challenge.

The student entrepreneur with the most votes in accordance with NFTE rules wins, but the competition is going to be tough because about 40 students from all over the country are competing for the top prize. Online voting ends at 11:59pm on October 3, 2016 and ends just before the student entrepreneurs gather in New York City to present their products in person to a panel of judges on October 6, 2016.

Perez is among the nationwide finalists selected to move forward in the competition because of his innovative and customizable backpack design. Oswal's Bags offers custom designed and interchangeable straps and outer pockets which can be removed and replaced—without having to buy a new backpack.

“The detachable parts come in a kaleidoscope of colors and prints allowing you to mix and match them. You can create an endless number of combinations, each one as original as you are. Your backpack can be a reflection of who you are and how you are feeling on any given day. My name is on the bag, but you make it yours,” said Perez.

Perez's entrepreneurship was fostered and his creativity encouraged when Sharon Courtney, NFTE Entrepreneurship Teacher and Social Studies Department Chair introduced Perez to the course curriculum at Peekskill High School.

“Ms. Courtney and our partners have implemented the Entrepreneurship course curriculum to provide our youngsters with rigorous and relevant real-life opportunities beyond the walls of the classroom. I have seen first-hand how these experiences have impacted our learner's thinking with respect to business, planning, and post-higher education. We are excited about the work to date, our future, and proud of our very own Oswal Perez. Go Oswal!” said Peekskill Schools Superintendent Dr. David Fine.

During the past school year, Perez developed the idea to allow students on limited incomes change up their backpacks without having to buy a new backpack or if part of a backpack shows wear or tears, it can be replaced for considerably less than the price of a new backpack.

In addition to the school district, Peekskill area business leaders are supporting Perez's bid to win for his innovative back pack design. Richard Swann of Swann Business Solutions has been mentoring and advising Perez, videographer/editor Andrew Stein shot and edited Perez's promotional video, Roya Zarrehparvar from Roya Photography/The Coop Art & Antiques took professional portrait photos of Perez for press purposes, Bill Powers, Executive Director of the Peekskill Business Improvement District is helping Perez with media relations and Deb Milone, Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce is credited by the school district with connecting the schools and the business community.

About NFTE: Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is an international nonprofit that activates the entrepreneurial mindset in young people and builds their knowledge about business start-up. Students acquire the entrepreneurial mindset (e.g., innovation, self-reliance, comfort with smart risk), alongside business, STEM, and presentation skills—equipping them to drive their best futures in the 21st Century. NFTE focuses its work on under-resourced communities, with programs in 23 locations in 10 countries.