High school students participate in Build-a-Thon at St. John’s University

St. John’s University hosted its first Build-a-Thon for local ninth- and tenth-grade students on March 27, according to a May 1 announcement. The event took place at the Queens campus and was organized in partnership with the Manhattan office of the national nonprofit BUILD.

The initiative gave high school students an opportunity to experience entrepreneurship by designing companies, developing prototypes, creating campaigns, and pitching their ideas to faculty judges. Volunteers supported teams throughout the process as they collaborated on their projects.

BUILD aims to help students in under-resourced communities develop skills and confidence for their futures. Justin Lokossou, Student Experience Program Manager for Entrepreneurship at BUILD, addressed participants by saying, “The question is not just about your brilliance; it is about how confident you are to build something for someone you have never met. Today, we get to experience that process firsthand.”

James M. Kinsley, Director of St. John’s Venture & Innovation Center (VIC), said: “We want students to see the many entrepreneurship opportunities that exist at St. John’s. Beyond that, we hope they learn resilience, adaptability, and the value of experiential learning.” Students responded positively to the challenge through teamwork and creativity.

Shivanie Persaud from John Adams High School reflected on her experience: “Entrepreneurship takes a lot of thinking,” she said. “You have to be creative to know what the client wants.” Three ninth-grade Bayside High School participants shared similar thoughts about collaboration and innovation during the event.

St. John’s University supports initiatives through its centers and institutes focused on multicultural efforts both locally and globally according to its official website. The university features campuses in Queens and Manhattan as well as international sites in Rome, Paris, and Limerick according to its official website. It is affiliated with the Vincentian Community according to its official website.

St. John’s offers more than 100 undergraduate majors across six schools and colleges according to its official website, operating as a Catholic institution dedicated to liberal arts education according to its official website. Rev. Brian J. Shanley holds the presidency of St John’s University per its official website.