Cadence Lesack of École George Elliot Secondary School (GESS) earned first place and a $2,500 prize at the 32nd annual Innovation Generation Challenge (iGen), held last
night (June 10, 2025) at the Innovation Centre in downtown Kelowna.
Lesack’s business, EquiGuard, stood out among more than 500 students and over 200 teams from across Central Okanagan Public Schools, earning top honours in the district’s premier
student entrepreneurship competition. EquiGuard is a breakaway halter for horses designed for lunging and walking. It allows the horse to safely step out of situations while the rider maintains control.
“With over 90% of the employers in the Central Okanagan being small businesses or entrepreneurs, iGen’s fostering of youth innovation makes this a critical program for our
communities,” said Kevin Kaardal, Superintendent of Schools/CEO. “We are grateful for the many business mentors, business education teachers, and generous community donors who have grown iGen into one of the largest entrepreneurial business education programs in the province.”
Eight finalist teams pitched their startup ideas to a panel of judges and answered questions in front of a live audience. Second place and a $2,000 prize went to Oden Ransom and Marcus Kuhn of École Kelowna Secondary School (KSS) for their business, Gutters & Shutters. Kuhn also received the $1,000 Kevin Greenwood Memorial Scholarship, generously donated by Okanagan College.
Third place and $1,250 was awarded to Lily Timms of GESS for her business, Red Thread Spice
Co.
The following five finalist teams each received $400 for their outstanding presentations:
Ryleigh Matewish (Rutland Senior Secondary) – Crazy Cookies
Tanav Goel & Yuvraj Dosanjh (RSS) – Slate
Kevin Kim (Okanagan Mission Secondary) – 2K Photography
Jackson Jobe (Mount Boucherie Secondary) – Trailside Outdoor Co.
Sebastian Verbickas (MBSS) – Muscle Mallows
Judges praised the creativity, research, and professionalism of all eight finalist teams. The evening concluded with a keynote address by David Brough and acknowledgements to the
dedicated educators who mentored the student teams: B.Wrauley and Justin Thiessen (KSS), Lee Schwartz (GESS), Kevin and Carla McDowall (MBSS), Nicole Fedkiw (RSS), Travis Holmes (OKM), and Tyler Jensen (OKM).
Ultimately, over $15,000 of prize money was awarded to students; $7500 at the finale and $7500 across each high school’s finals to select the winners to move forward.
