Aspiring student entrepreneurs took center stage at the 2025 Ed & Shauna Smith Empower Your Dreams (EYD) Competition, held April 2–4 at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Designed to help students develop real-world solutions to real-world problems, EYD gave participants the tools, mentorship, and experience to turn their ideas into action—and possibly into thriving businesses.
Open to all students and free to enter, the competition unfolded in three phases: a preliminary round, semi-finals, and a final pitch before a panel of experienced judges. Contestants were evaluated on how well their proposals aligned with BYU–Hawaii’s mission, business model sustainability, value proposition, and the clarity and professionalism of their presentations.
Turning Clean Spaces into Big Dreams
Taking home the grand prize and a $6,000 scholarship, Myriah Ellison, a junior from Idaho majoring in hospitality and tourism management, impressed judges with Spotless, a vacation rental cleaning service.
“Every time a guest checks out of a rental property, it needs to be cleaned and restocked. Instead of the property owner doing it themselves, they can hire my team,” said Ellison.
Initially started as a small side job, Spotless evolved into a focused business model throughout the competition. “The most valuable thing I learned was that your business doesn’t have to be a brand-new idea,” she explained. “You just need to find a market need and execute it well.”
Winning the top award was a powerful affirmation. “It’s given me motivation and excitement to grow it into something bigger,” Ellison said.
Serving Taiwan-Inspired Treats in Hawaii
The second-place winner and recipient of a $5,000 scholarship, Bowen Satterthwaite, a junior from Utah majoring in business management with an emphasis on finance, introduced Rockas Bing, a Taiwanese shave ice food trailer with a tropical twist.
Inspired by his time in Taiwan, Satterthwaite wanted to bring the creamy, flavorful shaved ice he loved to Oahu’s North Shore. Throughout EYD, he refined the brand and focused on strategies for growth. “It’s not just about a good product,” he shared. “It’s about showing why it matters and how it connects with people.”
Placing second was more than just a win—it was a confirmation. “It gives me confidence to grow the business and keep sharing a taste of Taiwan with the people in Hawaii.”
Tech-Driven Safety for Motorcyclists
One of the two third-place winners and a $4,000 scholarship went to SafeZone, a motorcycle security company in the Philippines founded by seniors Tom Mandam, Jade Cortes-Magracia, and junior Ralph Martinez. All are from the Philippines and major in business management with concentrations in supply chain and finance.
Previously, the second-place and People’s Choice Award winners of the 2024 Great Ideas Competition, the team partners with a Vietnamese tech company that developed an advanced GPS tracker capable of shutting down a stolen motorcycle in real time. For Martinez, the finance lead, EYD was a turning point. “I learned how to put stories behind numbers. This boosted my willingness to study harder and achieve my potential in the finance profession.”
Cortes-Magracia reflected on the journey from last year’s Great Ideas Competition to now. “We didn’t just join to be recognized—we want to validate what we’ve always aimed to do: create something real that brings safety, comfort, and security to our fellow Filipinos. This award reminds us why we started.”
A Ride Toward Change
Winning the People’s Choice Award and $250, Fatima Dagohoy, a junior from the Philippines majoring in biology, and Isabella Petty, a sophomore from Utah majoring in graphic design, presented Sakay (meaning ‘Ride’), a student transportation service in underdeveloped areas of the Philippines. Inspired by her difficult school commutes, Dagohoy designed a solution that improves access to education while providing jobs for local tricycle drivers.
“The competition helped me realize how to build a business that creates impact, and EYD was just the beginning of my desire to ‘learn and go forth to serve’ my peers,” Dagohoy said. “This award gave me confidence that this idea could go far, and I will continue to work on it as it has truly empowered Isabella and me to become problem solvers.”
A Launchpad for Visionaries
The 2025 Empower Your Dreams competition was a springboard for students who want to solve community challenges, build the Kingdom of God, and develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills along the way.
As the competition continues to grow each year, it stands as evidence of what can happen when vision meets opportunity—and when students dare to dream boldly, backed by faith and hard work.