(Image: Getty Images)

Kiona Elliot, 18

Payton Karr, 16

Hometown: Oakland Park, Florida

School: Northeast High School. Elliot will be attending the University of Florida in Fall 2013.

Favorite subject: Elliot’s favorite subject is environmental science. Karr enjoys chemistry.

Fun fact: In 2012, the young innovators and their team scored a $10,000 InvenTeam grant which supported the construction of the bicycle-powered emergency water-sanitation system. With the help of their community, the InvenTeam cohort, which is comprised of 14 members, was able to fundraise $17,000 to cover additional expenses such as travel and accommodations.

Natural disasters can cause horrific devastation, leaving behind mass destruction and many victims on their own in search of food and a clean water supply.  While brainstorming about an idea to submit for the Lemelson- MIT InvenTeam program grant, a pedal-powered filtration system was born.

One of the Northeast High School students in the program, Kalie Hoke, visited Haiti after the destructive 2010 earthquake and discovered how difficult it was to track down sanitary drinking water.

“We realized that we definitely wanted our project to be based upon [this] because, for us, it’s so easy to go to a kitchen or a bathroom sink to turn the tap and get water,” said Kiona Elliot, a senior at Northeast. “But in other countries people are dying because they don’t have the same privileges that we do with water.”

Representing a team of inventors who designed the bicycle-powered water filtration system, the young innovators—Elliot and Payton Karr— presented the device to President Barack Obama during the third Annual White House Science Fair, highlighting the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country, last April. Elliot and Karr were among the 100 students from more than 40 states present at the 2013 national science fair. Obama gave the bike, which provides 20-30 people with approximately a gallon of drinking water in a 15-hour period, a spin.

“He was excited that young people could be doing something that would impact the world in a great way,” said Karr.

BlackEnterprise.com spoke to the Lemelson-MIT InvenTeam participants about how the high-powered filtration system works, their passion for STEM and where the innovative duo will be in five years.

BlackEnterprise.com: How does the filtration system work?

Karr: The invention is powered by the bicycle, which has a hub-motor on the back which powers everything in the electrical box which includes a pump and two ozone generators.  Water is pumped from the initial holding tank that has a 100 and 200 micron mesh to filter out any large particles.  It’s pumped from that container into a second container through the electrical box which has an ozone generator to sanitize the water using ozone.  Once it gets into the second container, the second ozone generator diffuses the ozone throughout the container continuously to keep the water from being re-contaminated.

Elliot: The bicycle, not only does it convert kinetic energy to power our system, but it also can be used to transport our system because the entire thing is collapsible and can be placed into our box, which is actually designed after a pizza box.  It closes and bolts and the bike can then be hitched onto the container, and the container has two wheels on the side so that it can be transported easily to whatever area needed.

Given that Haiti was the inspiration for the filtration system, do you have plans to take your invention there?

Elliot: We’re actually trying to get our project patented and then sent to different areas that need it.  We’ve been trying to contact Red Cross about possibly using our invention and taking it to areas needed. We were contacted by a missionary group that takes trips to Haiti and they expressed their interest about possibly taking our invention with them on a mission trip to Haiti. We’re hoping it works out. There are just a couple of corrections we want to make with our invention to make it more easily available to missionary groups, so that they can take it with them.

When did you realize you were passionate about STEM?

Elliot: I think I speak for the both of us when I say that we were interested in the field of science after we joined our teacher science research class, which most of our teammates were members of the class.  So I started my sophomore year, and I was able to conduct an independent research project. After that year I didn’t win anything, or do that well at regionals, but I fell in love with the whole process of having a problem and then trying to solve that problem—and making new discoveries in the field of science.  From there I conducted three different research projects and I really fell in love with the field of science.

Karr: I started research as a class in my freshman year in high school. Before that I had really liked science. Once I actually took the class and got to have my own independent project, and solved those problems, it really made it that much more interesting that I could study something that I was really interested in instead of just something that the teacher gave you.  That’s when my interest in science started.

Why do you feel it’s so important for young people to get involved in STEM?

Elliot: I think it’s important for young people to be involved in STEM, not because [of] the fact that it’s going to be where all the jobs come from in the future, but because it’s where all the solutions for all the problems in the world are going to come from.  We need people who are going into the sci and the technological fields, and focus on problems in the world right now that they could use science to solve. I think that if more young people were involved in STEM, then I just think that there would be a better future because more solutions to different problems would be created.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Elliot: I see myself working in environmental science and just using my research to solve other environmental issues in the world.  Whether it’s the lack of food that people have or the lack of clean water in the world, I really think that our main concern for the world right now is the environment. I’d like to help come up with solutions to make sure that everything is sustainable for the future.

Karr: In the next five years, I see myself in school still. After that, I would really hope to join a non-profit organization such as Peace Corps or Doctors Without Borders, or something where I can travel around to help other people when I am a doctor.

Check BlackEnterprise.com/Technology for more features on teens in tech.

I don’t think I need to go into the history of Star Trek to let you know why this franchise stays popular. The series has gone through a reboot with a new cast that features young, upcoming stars that should elevate the series to go on for a number of years, if written and done correctly.

The J.J. Abrams-directed film, ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’, brings back the cast of the revamped original series of characters in ‘Star Trek’, originally released in 2009. This marks the 12th Star Trek motion picture and will keep your attention throughout the 132 minute film. But, luckily, the movie is fast moving where you don’t realize that it’s that long, at least in terms of not being bored or uninterested.

Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and his First Officer Spock (Zachary Quinto) are on a mission of revenge after an enemy, former Commander, John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays this role in such a severe sinister way that he would make Ricardo Montalbán, who played the original Khan, wince in fear), later to be revealed as Khan Noonien Singh (Many Trekkies will recognize the name from an early episode in the original Star Trek series and later the main villain in the second Star Trek movie, ‘The Wrath of Khan’), kills several high ranking officers at the Starfleet Command.

Now, although this isn’t officially a ‘remake’ of The Wrath of Khan, you can actually say that it is, with several twists; but, even if you saw the movie just mentioned, it would be an injustice to not go see ‘Into Darkness.’ The high stake action and the special effects will keep you captivated throughout. I don’t blame them to not promote it as The Wrath of Khan 2013 version, but it loosely resembles that film and even that movie was a great film when it was originally released. If only other remakes can take the liberty to recreate an original, switch it up and still restore, with liberty, of course, the juiciness of the plot and storyline and still be as successful or even more so, than the original. If this were the case, I’d happily accept seeing more classic movies being redone.

The cast also features Zoe Saldana (Uhuru), Karl Urban (Dr. Bones McCoy), Simon Pegg (Scotty), Anton Yelchin (Chekov) and John Cho (Sulu) and many others. In these economic times, we try to spend our money wisely and if you want sheer entertainment, your money won’t be wasted ‘to boldly go where no man has gone before.’

It is beneficial for small businesses to create content on social media tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to establish a presence online, to drive the conversation about their companies and products and to build credibility and trust with clients and potential customers, especially in a growing global marketplace.

A survey conducted by CompTIA in 2012 found that that benefits of using social networking tools include:

• Better communication with clients (61%);
• Brand positioning (49%);
• Real-time customer satisfaction (48%); and
• Potential lead generation (43%).

The webinar will cover:

• Understanding the social media landscape;
• Learning about the major social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter;
• Focusing on best practices in building your following and engaging your customers;
• Involving your influencers in the mix; and
• Creating and curating content to fuel your channels.

The Creating Content and Engaging for Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter social media webinar for small businesses will be held May 23 at 1 p.m. EDT.  To register for the webinar, visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8248962092793044480

A captioned version of this webinar will be available in two weeks at: www.sba.gov/social-media.

According to Time, 1,416 Americans in the 10% income bracket were surveyed by American Express Publishing and the Harrison Group for the 2013 Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, and asked about “their spending habits and lifestyle decisions” in a currently unstable economy.

“Despite the clear consensus from economists that the recession is over, affluent and wealthy consumers do not believe that a real national recovery — neither economic nor emotional — has occurred,” says Jim Taylor, vice-chairman of the Harrison Group.

In fact, according to the survey, 76% of the 1,416 people analyzed for this study said that they didn’t believe the recession was over at all. But that won’t stop their need for pure luxury when it comes to jewelry, travel, cars and electronics, says Time.

While “there has been a notable rise in wealthy Americans expected to spend more on luxury hotels and resorts (up 17%), home entertainment and electronics (up 17%), watches (up 10%), and automobiles (up 18%),” they’re only able to do so because “the mean net worth of households in the top 7% rose by 28%” between 2009 – 2011. In all, the Harrison Group study says it’s not that Americans are spending more, it’s that they’re splurging more.

When it comes to things like the legendary Harley Davidson motorcycle, CNN Money reports “the company forecasts sales of around 250,000 bikes this year, up from 223,023 in 2009.” And, “likewise, luxury automakers such as Bentley and Porsche haven been reporting rising sales in late 2012 and early 2013.”

Even the cost of primping the upper echelon of teenagers has hit a new high as “the average prom attendee” is said to be $1,139. But the most awkward fact about the want to spend in a recession is that less affluent families are the ones looking to spend more when it comes the rites-of-passage events such as prom, spending a whopping $1,245 per child this year.

According to the latest Experian/Moody’s Analytics report, the Small Business Credit Index climbed 5.7 points in Q1 2013 to 109, up from 104.3 in the previous quarter. Details from the report showed that much of the first quarter improvement was fueled by lower delinquency rates and stronger consumer spending.

“Small-business credit conditions are improving, but only slowly and unevenly across the country,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “Much further progress this year will be difficult given the likely fallout from sizable tax increases and government spending cuts, but conditions are expected to improve next year once these fiscal headwinds begin to fade.”

Findings from the report show that small companies are faring considerably better in cities west of the Mississippi. This is driven in part by a resurgent housing market, while eastern cities have been more directly affected by cuts in government spending and the poor performance of Europe’s economies.

“Small businesses have reduced their levels of payment delinquency, and that is a good sign,” said Dan Meder, vice president of Experian’s Business Information Services. “Near-term pressure on consumer spending may adversely affect cash flow, so small businesses must continue to remain diligent in their payment behavior. By successfully meeting their payment obligations, they avoid negative repercussions on credit availability that could limit growth.”

Regionally, delinquency rates for small businesses in Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Ariz.; and San Diego, Calif., were significantly lower than the U.S. rate in Q1, whereas several major eastern cities are more than double the national average. At the state level, delinquency rates in Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho were significantly lower than the U.S. average.

(Image: Thinkstock)

For most of your life you’ve probably heard that you should acquire as much education as you can to succeed. Particularly in today’s competitive job market, education is a key component to achieving success and preventing yourself from failing. However, education is only part of the success equation.

It’s very important for you to understand that just because you don’t take a traditional path to success by attaining tons of education doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Think about some of the most famous college dropouts such as Microsoft’s Bill Gates, tennis star Tiger Woods, entertainment magnate Russell Simmons and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Although they decided to walk away from a traditional classroom education, they still managed to become very successful.

Here are top tips I learned from these wealthy college dropouts. Keeping these tips in mind will help you navigate your way through your unique career path and professional endeavors:

1. Challenge the status quo through innovation: Many of these leaders were all game-changers because they revolutionized their respective industries with ideas that had never been thought of or fully developed before. Use your innovative skills and mindset to bring some fresh ideas, products, and results to your job or industry.

2. Get your hustle on: Oftentimes, the word hustle carries a negative connotation. But according to Dictionary.com, hustle means: “to proceed or work rapidly or energetically or to be aggressive, especially in business or financial dealings.” Keep these definitions in mind and start getting your hustle on.

3. Fully commit to your goals: Sometimes you’ll have to be radical in order to fully commit to your goals. Occasionally people won’t understand some of the risks you take, but you have to do what’s necessary for you to realize your goals and dreams.

Antoine Moss, Ph.D., (@2PositiveTweets) is a nationally recognized resource on internships, early career achievement, leadership and motivation. CEO and founder of CEO Style Consulting L.L.C., Moss empowers professionals and organizations to reach their full potential, and serves as speaker, workshop instructor and consultant. The author of Learn to Intern CEO Style, Moss has been a featured expert on outlets including Fox 8 TV News and George Fraser’s 2011 Power Networking Conference.

(Image: Thinkstock)

Leaders are only as great as their teams, and most successful managers know that empowering subordinates to take on key roles at a company leads to long-term wins.

In terms of team-building for the greater good of the company, coaching those who work toward your agenda often creates a win-win situation, where workers are motivated and can take things off your plate for you to make room for your own advancement.

But how do you position a good worker to be a great manager? Entrepreneur Paul Spiegelman details how for Inc. He writes:

It’s noble to try to “promote from within,” but irresponsible to promote without preparation. In some cases, you may not have the resources available to train your next leaders, and when that happens, it may of course be necessary to look outside. Or maybe you hire someone who can train your next generation of leaders.

If you’re going to commit to advancing the careers of your best workers, and one of those opportunities moves them into a leadership position for the first time, always do the following:

Read more at Inc. …

On Friday, members of Congress grilled I.R.S. and treasury officials about the targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny of their applications for tax-exemption. Bipartisan outrage was palpable as the congressional hearings kicked off in the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee. But there was little doubt that some Republican members of the subcommittee were looking to directly link President Barack Obama and his administration to the scandal.

By most accounts, Republicans will have a hard time linking it to the White House, reports the New York Times. In opening remarks, ranking subcommittee member Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich) cautioned anyone trying to use the hearing as a continuation of the 2012 election or to prepare for the 2014 midterm elections. Those persons, Levin said, would be “making a very big mistake.”

Experts say the differences in how men and women deal with finances have been overstated, the New York Times reports.

And there’s a study that supports it.

“Financial Literacy Around the World: An Overview,” published in 2011 in The Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, found that women seemed to know as much as men when it came to the fundamentals of financial literacy.

While men answered study questions more correctly than women, the biggest takeaway is that financial literacy is generally low for both genders in the U.S. and around the world.

Bottom line: Don’t tell a woman to “stop shopping so much.” It’s condescending at best and sexist at worst, experts say.

Veterans often face challenges in raising capital or have trouble receiving a conventional loan. With the support of SBA’s top 20 national lending partners, and approximately 100 additional regional and community lending partners across the United States, SBA expects to assist an additional 2,000 veterans to obtain loans to start or expand small businesses by increasing lending by $475 million over the next five years. This equals a five percent increase above historic veteran lending activity by the SBA.

Veterans make up a large number of successful small business owners. Nine percent of small businesses are veteran-owned. These 2.45 million veteran-owned businesses employ more than 5 million individuals. In the private sector workforce, veterans are more likely than those with no active-duty military experience to be self-employed.

SBA Administrator Karen Mills is announcing the initiative today at Ft. Bragg, NC, together with representatives of the SBA lending community from across the country, the U.S. Army and transitioning service members who have chosen to participate in SBA’s Operation Boots to Business (B2B) Program, an initiative to train veterans and transitioning service members in business entrepreneurship.

“Our service men and women have made incalculable contributions and sacrifices for our country, and supporting them as they pursue their dreams to start or grow their own business is one of SBA’s highest priorities,” Mills said. “Through this partnership with national lending partners and regional and community lenders across the U.S., we stand ready to serve veteran entrepreneurs with loan-guarantees, entrepreneurial training, and resources that are critical tools to help them start businesses, drive the local economy and create jobs for themselves and their communities.”

SBA currently engages veterans through its 68 local SBA district offices, 15 Veterans Business Outreach Centers nationwide, and its partnership with 1,000 Small Business Development Centers and some 12,000 SCORE – Counselors to America’s Small Businesses volunteers.

Each year, SBA helps more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists.  To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, please visit the website at www.sba.gov/veterans.