For those who may not know, the Forbes Under 30 Summit is a huge four-day conference that brings together young leaders, founders, and creators from all over the world. Last year, it was in Cleveland, and this year, it's right here in Cincinnati. And next year, it’ll be in Columbus! It's such an amazing opportunity for students to connect with these inspirational minds and learn about entrepreneurship and innovation—exactly the kind of skills we want our kids to be exposed to.

The lineup for the summit is jaw-dropping too! We’re talking about big names like Sophia Edelstein, co-founder of Pair Eyewear, Ken Chenault from American Express, and Bill Shufelt, the CEO of Athletic Brewing Co. These are the kinds of people our kids will get to learn from and possibly even meet!

And here's the best part: on September 25th, Marshall High School will host one of the summit's service days. Not only will there be a tour of the school and a meet-and-greet, but the real highlight is a Shark Tank-style pitch session where some of our students will get the chance to pitch their creative, entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of Forbes Under 30 leaders! Just imagine that—our kids standing in front of such influential people, sharing their "big and bold" ideas. This is exactly the kind of experience that can ignite a passion for learning and future success.

While all the students will be encouraged to participate, only a select few will get to pitch. But every student will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions and get some one-on-one time with the panelists. It’s going to be an unforgettable day of learning, creativity, and networking.

Marshall High School has already achieved so much in just one year, and this is a huge testament to the amazing work they’re doing. With a unique focus on dropout prevention, academic credit recovery, and career technical education in fields like business, healthcare, culinary, and more, Marshall is truly making a difference for its students. The school started with 345 students last year and is already growing, with plans for even more in the coming years. It’s clear that families are seeing the value in what Marshall offers.

I just have to say thank you to the leadership at Marshall, including David Goodwin and Kelven Moss, for all they are doing for our students and community. And a special shoutout to Mayor Pat Moeller and Council member Joel Lauer for recognizing the incredible work happening at Marshall.

September 25th is going to be such a proud day for us all! I can’t wait to see what ideas our students bring to the table and how this experience will inspire them for the future. What an amazing opportunity!