Over the past six years, Pine Crest Upper School students, driven by curiosity, empathy, and a desire to make a difference, have been invited to apply for a selective three-year Social Entrepreneurship program. Inspired by Dr. Markham’s commitment to empowering students with hands-on experience and instilling a sense of purpose, this transformative program cultivates insightful leaders who address real-world challenges and work to create meaningful, lasting change.
“As Vice President of Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship, I’ve had the privilege of leading this program’s growth and seeing how empowering students to create meaningful solutions helps shape their development as learners and leaders,” said Keri Kolettis. The Social Entrepreneurship program is all about equipping students to become purposeful leaders who genuinely want to make a difference. Throughout their time as social entrepreneur fellows, the students go through experiences, both challenging and rewarding, that help them learn, grow, and make a positive impact.
People Invest in People, Not Things
The idea that “people invest in people, not things” holds a deep and practical truth in business, education and life. It means that no matter how groundbreaking or innovative an idea or product is, its success depends heavily on meaningful relationships, trust and the human connections behind it. A great product is only part of the equation; lasting success comes from the human connections that turn ideas into reality
Social Impact Through Entrepreneurship (SITE)
This two-week summer course introduces key concepts in entrepreneurial thinking to all Freshman. Students explore themes like sustainability, design thinking and ethical leadership while diving into issues that affect local or global communities. Through SITE, students learn how to research a problem, understand customer needs and test solutions. The course ends with a final Pitch Day, where students share their ventures with a panel of industry leaders. More than a graduation requirement, SITE serves as a launchpad. It helps students grow more confident and ready to lead with purpose.
Class Culture Code
One of the most powerful traditions in the program is the creation of a class culture code. Each cohort works together to define the principles that will guide how they collaborate and support one another. The process begins with reading “Delivering Happiness” by Tony Hsieh, founder of Zappos, who believed culture and happiness shape success. His company’s values, such as “Deliver WOW Through Service,” show how shared purpose can drive behavior and growth. Rather than a list of rules, students create a shared agreement rooted in trust, creativity and accountability. The culture code helps establish a mindset that influences not only classroom dynamics, but also how students approach leadership and decision-making as a group.
Innovation
At the start of their journey, sophomores are challenged to design a product or service and deliver their first pitch in just nine days. It is a fast-paced challenge that pushes students to think critically and communicate clearly. They use Jonah Berger’s STEPPS framework outlined in his book, Contagious: Why Things Catch On, which outlines six key principles that drive products, ideas and content to become viral. The six principles—social currency, triggers, emotion, public visibility, practical value and storytelling—help students craft messages that resonate. This experience teaches students to move beyond inspiration. They learn to connect with audiences, build trust and offer solutions that reflect both purpose and strategy.
Partnerships
Strategic partnerships help bring the program to life and allow students to engage with experts and industry perspectives outside of the classroom. Through a collaboration with the London School of Economics (LSE), Pine Crest launched the Visionary Ventures Program. In this four-week virtual experience, seniors explored venture-building with guidance from global innovators. The program placed social impact at the center of each session and encouraged students to blend academic thinking with real-world application. This partnership led to the first LSE Innovation Festival, hosted on the Fort Lauderdale campus in early 2025. Students participated in interactive workshops and live business challenges in areas such as agricultural tech, sustainable fashion and financial technology. They also met with mentors who helped them explore the connection between leadership, creativity and long-term impact. Earlier in the Fall of 2024, Pine Crest also welcomed professionals from Related Ross to campus. Their insights into how real estate and community investment can create lasting change provided a meaningful example of entrepreneurship in action. Additionally, sophomores take part in a six-week virtual instructor series with faculty from the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Booth School of Business. These sessions focus on global issues, such as sustainability, energy and environmental design, while helping students strengthen their research and analytical thinking.
Competitions
Entrepreneurship is not only about developing ideas. It is also about testing them, gathering feedback and growing from every opportunity. A group of Upper School students traveled to The Masters School in New York to participate in the Diamond Challenge, one of the largest high school entrepreneurship competitions in the world. The event gave students a platform to pitch their ventures and connect with like-minded peers. Beyond the pitch sessions, students built confidence through mentorship and collaboration. The experience offered a chance to practice resilience and refine ideas with the support of a dynamic community.
Symposium
Each spring, the Social Entrepreneurship Symposium gives students the opportunity to showcase their ventures in front of families, mentors and peers. It is one of the most memorable events of the year. Students reflect on their journey, practice public speaking and strengthen their storytelling skills. It is also a moment to thank those who supported them and to recognize the power of teamwork. The event captures what entrepreneurship is really about: relationships, mission and continuous learning.
Alumni
A defining strength of the program is its alumni network. Graduates carry the lessons from Pine Crest into industries where they influence ideas, lead teams and pursue meaningful change. These alumni return as mentors, offer guidance and help current students see how classroom experiences can translate into future careers. During a culminating trip, seniors connect with them in person and gain insights through site visits and informal conversations. These relationships extend learning far beyond graduation. They help students grow into problem-solvers who are comfortable navigating complexity and committed to making a difference.
Program Framework
The Social Entrepreneurship program is designed to help students become more than business-minded. It encourages them to lead with integrity, curiosity and vision. By combining hands-on projects, global partnerships and real-world mentorship, the program gives students the tools to navigate uncertainty and build a future filled with purpose and possibility.
Building on its commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, Pine Crest School is submitting a proposal for the SXSW EDU PanelPicker, a platform that highlights cutting-edge educational initiatives. The opportunity would allow students and faculty to share their approach to social entrepreneurship with a wider audience, connecting with educators and innovators nationwide. Support Pine Crest by voting for its panel. Click here to learn more about how to vote and help bring this program to SXSW EDU.