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Schools

High School Senior Honored for Entrepreneurial Spirit

Parkland High School senior Akil Lewis won $58,100 in cash and prizes from Men's Wearhouse to be split between himself and his school.

The Parkland School Board honored Parkland High School senior Akil Lewis on Tuesday night for his entrepreneurial achievement.

Akil was awarded $58,100 in cash and prizes to be split between himself and Parkland High School when he won the Men’s Wearhouse Prom Rep Challenge.

The high school received a $25,000 donation from Men’s Wearhouse. School officials subsequently decided to use the donation to benefit the Post Prom Party Fund.

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Parent volunteers and school administrators organize the Post Prom Party at the high school each year from 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. The goal is to provide students with a safe and fun place for prom night.

Parkland High School Principal Jim Moniz told the school board on Tuesday that Akil’s effort was “a tremendous entrepreneurial event.”

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Akil mobilized his Facebook community, used Google search results and created a web site to attract referrals. He was credited with bringing in the most referrals, resulting in 526 tuxedo rentals in his name.

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