Carrollwood Day twins secure spot in International Vermont Pitch Competition

Originally Published on April 2, 2024

LUTZ — When Parker and Pierson Jones, twin brothers and juniors at Carrollwood Day School, began this fall, they anticipated a workload filled with homework and afterschool activities. However, they never expected to become finalists in not one, but two separate innovation competitions.

In the fall, both brothers were in their engineering class when their teacher, Lisa Esch, encouraged them to sign up for the Future Health Professionals, formerly known as Health Occupations Students of America or HOSA, Medical Innovations competition. The competition challenges students to create an original innovation that could lead to an advancement in medicine or healthcare delivery.

Despite some initial hesitation by the brothers, their teachers encouraged the brothers to sign up and develop an innovation on their own, even if they ultimately failed.

"They were incredibly nervous about the project from the get-go. They had really kind of cold feet about the whole thing, and we had to push them to overcome and persevere," said Esch.

After discussing the competition with their dad, the brothers studied spinal disks and the operation of removing part of a herniated or bulging disk. Their research revealed a small chance of re-herniation post-operation with traditional methods, limiting patient mobility.

"Our dad is greatly affected by (bulging and herniated disks) because he loves mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding but is limited in his mobility and it’s really painful," said Parker Jones.

The brothers' innovation replaces the traditionally used rods, screws, or artificial disk insertion with a “titanium-mesh spinal brace” that keeps the disks in place and allows for greater mobility.

Their innovation placed third at the regional HOSA competition, securing them a spot at the state competition and a Monday morning announcement garnering attention from Lindsey Montague, the upper school's business teacher, who believed their innovation could be a viable pitch for the University of Vermont Pitch Challenge.

According to the challenge’s website, “The Vermont Pitch Challenge gives high school entrepreneurs from across the globe the chance to pitch innovative businesses that make a difference in their communities.”

Having just placed in the regional competition on Jan. 20, the brothers had around two weeks to adjust their presentation and demonstrate a viable business model in a four-minute recorded presentation.

"At first, we were daunted. We had just finished HOSA and had only two weeks until the deadline for the first submission. It was a lot of work, but we were like, 'It’s an opportunity. Might as well take advantage of it,'" said Pierson Jones.

Despite an extra focus on time management, sacrificing some hours of sleep, and numerous after-school meetings with Montague, the brothers have found a new interest in the business side of their innovation. They both have a desire, should they win, to pursue the next steps in patent filing and trials for their innovation.

"Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little bit of sleep, but that's life," said Parker Jones.

Both brothers knew the competition was extensive, believing it to be a national competition, but didn’t put much stake into the possibility of winning; just wanting to get their idea out to more people. When the finalists were announced on March 1, the brothers' mom informed them that not only was it a global competition, but they had placed in the top 5 out of nearly 150 teams of students from seven countries and 27 states.

"We were all shocked, even our grandma. She was sending emails to the lady in Vermont who was coordinating, asking questions about it. She was so excited, saying, 'I'm the boys' mimi!'" said Parker Jones.

Whether the brothers win the competition or not, both will leave this experience and school year knowing that high school students have the potential to come up with great ideas. Sometimes, all that is needed is the right motivation and encouragement.

Parker and Pierson will travel to the University of Vermont on April 4 to present their pitch in-person, competing for the grand prize of a full-ride scholarship to UVM. Going to UVM for college is now a possibility on the brothers' minds, despite their initial cold feet and Vermont's even colder weather.