BET Makes History 2022-2023
BET Top 3 in the U.S.
Ashley Cruz-Suarez is the first LAUSD and BET Magnet student to place in the Top 3 New York National Youth Entrepreneurship Business Finals. BET was top 12 every year for the last 5 years and Ashley was determined to break into the ultimate level and nearly took top honors. Her New York journey began on May 23 in the NFTE West San Francisco business competition where she did not place at all, leaving it to Damian and Amy to contend with 3 other high school seniors. Students who make it to the regional finals, however, were allowed to compete in the New York finals. Upon making it to the top 12 with Damian and Amy, Ashley came from behind to make history for her family and BET Magnet. Below is her business plan.
Los Angeles to San Francisco to New York
For an unprecedented 6th consecutive year, BET is New York bound! Damian Jimenez, Amy Wu, and Ashley Cruz-Suarez and their families are being flown to New York in October 2023 to compete for the best business plans. The trio are part of the top 36 student finalists in the country.
NFTE WEST Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge6 out of over 3000 students (3 high school and 3 BET) earned a trip to San Francisco to compete for the best business plan. Damian and Amy won 2nd ($1000 scholarship) and 3rd place ($500.00 scholarship) respectively, along with finalist Ashley. The wins earned them a trip to New York, where the top 36 students in the country will compete in October 2023 for the number 1 title. All BET students performed well against 2 northern California high school students and 1 from Los Angeles. |
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Damian (above) invented AutoVantage, a protective device that safeguards catalytic converter thefts, which are rampant in the automotive world.
Amy Wu (left) created Feminetic, an organic, safer feminine product, and Ashley Cruz Suarez invented Re-Fit, an earth-friendly, fashion trading app.
All three students exceeded expectations without the traditional accompaniment of BET teachers. |
Cal State University (CSU) Fullerton Titan Fast Pitch Business Competition:For the 5th consecutive year, BET Magnet had at least 3 students place in the top 4 of the CSU Fullerton Titan Fast Pitch business competition: Lucas Barrenos earned 3rd place, and 4th place winners were David Gutierrez and Diego Romero.
Lucas created an anti-bullying teddy bear with an integrated button that--when pressed--connected to an online live agent for assistance and therapy. David and Diego created a digital software lock mechanism to assist home owners in creating categorized general savings, medical emergencies, home improvement, college savings, etc.
BET has placed in the top 4 the last 5 of 10 years CSU Fullerton Titan Fast Business Pitch has been in existence.
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 Lucas, Diego, & David continue BET's legacy at CSU Fullerton.
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Games For Change National Challenge: Western Region (13 states)Zion Verceles received the Best Video Game Award in the Games for Change National Challenge: Zion’s game (Save 2050) focused on the theme of climate change, how it impacts everyone around the world: rise in temperatures, increased severe storms, droughts, etc.
The game brings attention to ways to stop global warming and take action. Seven other BET students were finalists: Louie Zeno Crux: Sebastian Garcia; Zackery Orona; Devin Boggus; Stanley Huong; Jade-Ling Barreto; Andrea Torres:
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Polk Institute Business Pitch CompetitionsJazlin Chang won 1st Place, Samantha Rattay won 2nd Place, and Izabella Rodriguez. and Xinxin Mai took a 3rd Place Tie to dominate the Polk Institute Business Pitch Competitions held at Optimum Studios with Audience of Entrepreneurs and Angel Investors.
Isabella Brown also won 1st Place for the Fast Pitch challenge. Jazlin, Samantha, and Isabella were also semi-finalists in the NFTE West Region Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge business competitions.
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 Jazlin, Samantha, and Isabella post victory.
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Samantha & Jazlin separately presenting their business plan.
Virtual Enterprise: Junior Ventures National Competition
BET Magnet also remained relevant in the Virtual Enterprise: Junior Ventures competition by receiving the Top 25 Branding Award led by team "Cozy Sleeper" (Isabella Brown, Dylan Kortla, Hailey Ocampo, Jazlin Chang). While BET students Desmarie Carillo and Katie To placed in the semi-finals national pitch competition, BET received a whole class team Honorable Mention in the Fast Pitch Branding competition for the business plan "Hydro pod," led by Sophie Yu and Samantha Sanchez Rojas as the CEOs.
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Olympic Development Program & National Finals Soccer ChampionBET Magnet-Mandarin Dual Language star, Amada Rodriguez, travelled to the east coast to compete against the best soccer teams in the U.S. and returned to Los Angeles a National Soccer Champion.
Amada was also accepted to Olympic Development Program. She received her championship title in Richmond, Virginia, and was also a national finalist in New Jersey.
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Beyond the Bell "Do the Write Thing" Challenge for the National Campaign to Stop Violence
Out of 713 applicants 2 BET students, Ximena Castillo and Samantha Blaire, placed in the top 10, and Victor Godinez from Nightingale VAPA's academy won 1st Place: Only 2 students in California were chosen to go to Washington DC for 4 days.