Every week, the Sports Information Department at Purchase will select a new student-athlete, coach/staff or event to highlight in our "In the Panther Spotlight" feature … today's feature: ​Kelly Hayes Wins Shark Tank Competition
 
Purchase, NY (Dec. 7, 2018) – Success for senior outfielder Kelly Hayes proves to go far beyond the softball field, as she was the winner of the second annual Purchase College Shark Tank event Wednesday evening.

Shark Tank allows student entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to a panel of judges. Funded by the nonprofit organization GenFKD, the winners of the competition receive a $5,000 check to pursue these ideas.Hayes, along with her good friend and business partner Angela Galli, earned first place with their pitch of "Receipt to Recipe," an app that uses a photo of grocery receipts to generate recipes for the collective or individual food items that were purchased.
           
Hayes' invented the winning idea in her economics class titled "Entrepreneurship and Finance- Turning Ideas Into Startups." She was driven by a growing issue of food waste that she was experiencing. "I found myself throwing out food that I haven't even touched because I forgot I even bought it," Hayes said. "I also knew that this was a problem for a lot of people, and that food waste is a very big problem all over the world."
 
As a result, she created Receipt to Recipe and with the help of Galli, the two worked consistently throughout the semester to further develop the idea as much as possible.  "We were always thinking of ways to improve our idea and our presentation," said Hayes.
 
Standing in the spotlight center stage on behalf of a judges panel and a packed recital hall, Hayes described this experience as one of the scariest moments of her life- but worth it all the while. "I don't think I've ever been that nervous before," said Hayes. "But the Shark Tank experience was incredible."
 
While the prize money can be spent on any business venture the recipients choose, Hayes and Galli plan to start up their idea that won the prize. "We really believe in Receipt to Recipe," said Hayes, "The Shark Tank competition helped us create vital connections for the future of the idea."
           
Hayes wasn't the only student entrepreneur to represent Purchase Athletics. Junior Isaac Jone's of men's tennis won second place for his idea "Shower Now," a hand-held portable shower system ideal for athletes on the go.
 
Senior men's baseball player Neal Koch's idea "Vesta" earned him a spot in the competition. Vesta is a software system consisting of financial literacy courses that are comprehensible for all ages.
 
Hayes is now the second student-athlete to win the Shark Tank competition. Last year's winner was men's basketball phenom— and current Harlem Globetrotter— Max Pearce '18.