OREANDA-NEWS. SAP SE today announced that it is teaming up with leading youth empowerment health and wellness nonprofit GENYOUth to present the 2016 SAP Social Innovation Series, a six-city event that supports and funds the ideas of student entrepreneurs seeking to make a difference in their schools and communities.

For the second year in a row, students are invited to develop and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges for the chance to win $10,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Super Bowl. In addition, at least 60 students will win a $1,000 grant to help bring their ideas to life.

The series kicks off this fall with stops in Minneapolis (Oct. 4), Dallas (Oct. 12), Chicago (Oct. 20), Pittsburgh (Oct. 27), Atlanta (Nov. 3) and Phoenix (Nov. 10). At each event, students will present their ideas to a panel of judges, who will select 10 projects to be awarded $1,000. At the end of the six events, 10 student projects will be entered in a nationwide competition. One student will win the grand prize and be named the 2016 SAP Teen Innovator.

“Enabling today’s students to be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs is vital if the United States is to maintain its economic and technological edge,” said Scott Jones, head of general business for SAP North America. “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of small and midsize businesses, which account for nearly half of U.S. GDP, create four out of five jobs globally and account for 80 percent of all companies using our technology. SAP is proud to work alongside our partners at GENYOUth to help unlock the creativity and ambition of the budding young entrepreneurs who represent the future of our industry.”

SAP and GENYOUth are inviting participation from students aged 13 to 17 from around the country who aspire to be entrepreneurs. Students will attend a free, five-hour workshop in one of the six cities. They will work under the guidance of an SAP mentor to develop an original idea to solve a relevant health and wellness challenge in their schools or communities.

“Through the SAP Social Innovation Series we’ve seen students develop into entrepreneurs instilled with the confidence and leadership skills to drive change to improve nutrition and physical activity in their schools and communities,” said Alexis Glick, CEO, GENYOUth. “We’re thrilled to host this event series with SAP for the second year in a row. SAP continues to be a tremendous partner in our collective efforts to bring resources and knowledge, which help nurture healthy, high-achieving students who are ultimately better prepared for school and the workforce.”