Skip to main content
March 28, 2025

F.L. Schlagle High School Student Takes First Place in KC Biz-Fest Competition

A diverse group of six adults smiles proudly while holding a large novelty check for $5,000 indoors.

F.L. Schlagle High School student Oscar Cervantes walked away with a $3,000 check after taking first place in the 2025 KC Biz Fest Competition.

A diverse group of six adults smiles proudly while holding a large novelty check for $5,000 indoors.

The high school junior is the first student from Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools to win such an honor in 21 years.

Cervantes and his classmates participated in the four-day event at the Regnier Center Building at Johnson County College in Overland Park, Kansas.

A group of people standing on a stage holding large oversized presentation checks in a conference room.

From Wednesday, February 26, to Saturday, March 1, students were tasked with identifying business opportunities based on their hobbies and skills, and were also challenged to establish entrepreneurial and leadership goals.

Cervantes garnered first place with his business idea, which he calls, “Ugly Food.” The goal of his idea is to assist the community by providing them with healthy and affordable food options.

A group of people stand and converse in a brightly lit conference room.

“His innovative approach to addressing food accessibility likely impressed the judges and earned him the top honor,” said F.L. Schlagle Business and Marketing Teacher Meran Mustafa.

KC Biz Fest is a training event that focuses on helping students turn hobbies and skills into profit-making ventures. It also offers them the opportunity to develop and present business plans but also provides them access to scholarships from participating colleges and universities.

Five men dressed in formal business attire pose together inside an office building hallway.

“All of my Schlagle participants performed well, learned communication skills, had confidence, networked with professionals, and earned patience in absorbing all the information over the four days,” shared Mustafa. “I am extremely proud of my students; in fact, they are the reason I come to work every day.”

Because of the students’ success at the competition, each student earned a Diploma+ endorsement.

KC Biz-Fest is sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Collaborative (GKCHC), which provides comprehensive assistance to the growth, evolution, and professional advancement of Hispanic and other minorities in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.