Margie Day Tech Impact Awards
Nomination Process -
Nominations Due by Oct 2
Building Brilliance: Tech, Talent, Tenacity
Youth and Business Tech Awards
Youth and Business Tech Awards
Celebrating Those Who Embody Tech, Talent & Tenacity — the Spirit of Building Brilliance
Award Purpose: The Margie Day Building Brilliance Award honors young innovators and businesses whose creativity, courage, and community impact reflect both the legacy of Margie Day — the Norfolk-born R&B pioneer, ministry leader, and founder of Centerstage, a youth empowerment and performance program. And the mission of Building Brilliance: Tech, Talent & Tenacity.
There are 2 awards:
1) recognize students who use technology to solve problems, express identity, uplift their communities, and demonstrate the persistence required to thrive in school, work, and life.
2) recognize a business that uses technology to solve problems, express identity, demonstrate the persistence required to thrive AND uplift their communities.
Award Purpose: The Margie Day Building Brilliance Award honors young innovators and businesses whose creativity, courage, and community impact reflect both the legacy of Margie Day — the Norfolk-born R&B pioneer, ministry leader, and founder of Centerstage, a youth empowerment and performance program. And the mission of Building Brilliance: Tech, Talent & Tenacity.
There are 2 awards:
1) recognize students who use technology to solve problems, express identity, uplift their communities, and demonstrate the persistence required to thrive in school, work, and life.
2) recognize a business that uses technology to solve problems, express identity, demonstrate the persistence required to thrive AND uplift their communities.
Why Margie Day?
Margie Day (Margaret Hoffler) rose from Norfolk, VA to national acclaim as one of the most powerful R&B voices of the 1950s. After her music career, she devoted herself to ministry, youth empowerment, and community encouragement, ultimately creating Centerstage, a program designed to help young people discover their gifts, build confidence, and shine.
Her life embodied:
- Tech — mastering the recording and production technologies of her era
- Talent — a signature voice that shaped early American rhythm & blues
- Tenacity — pushing through industry barriers, gender bias, and health challenges
- Community & Ministry — lifting others through faith, compassion, and service
- Youth Empowerment (Centerstage) — creating spaces for young people to grow, perform, and find their voice
This is an honor within the Building Brilliance: Tech, Talent & Tenacity framework, recognizing those who embody the Building Brilliance model: Technical Skills, Academics, Financial Literacy, Professional Development, Personal Development, and Wellness.
- Tech — innovation, problem-solving, digital creativity. Students demonstrate innovation through coding, AI, robotics, digital art, app-building, or any technology that solves problems or expresses creativity.
- Talent — academic and technical or leadership excellence. Students show this through design, storytelling, engineering, technology (including technology art), or community-centered digital projects.
- Tenacity — resilience, persistence, and growth. Students persist through challenges, iterate on their ideas, and show leadership in their cohort or community.
Award Criteria
Nominees should excel in at least the first three areas:
1) Creative Innovation (Tech)
2) Skill & Expression (Talent)
3) Resilience & Leadership (Tenacity)
4) *Community Impact Projects that uplift peers, neighborhoods, or families (optional for students, not for businesses)
5) *Holistic Growth Evidence of progress across the 6 pillars (does not apply to businesses)
* Student nominees that excel in these areas get bonus points
1) Creative Innovation (Tech)
2) Skill & Expression (Talent)
3) Resilience & Leadership (Tenacity)
4) *Community Impact Projects that uplift peers, neighborhoods, or families (optional for students, not for businesses)
5) *Holistic Growth Evidence of progress across the 6 pillars (does not apply to businesses)
* Student nominees that excel in these areas get bonus points
Award Eligibility
Students:
1) Middle-school, high-school and young adults under 25 across Greater Cincinnati
2) Students in tech
Businesses:
1) Small business <50 employees
2) Those who create technology applications
1) Middle-school, high-school and young adults under 25 across Greater Cincinnati
2) Students in tech
Businesses:
1) Small business <50 employees
2) Those who create technology applications
Winners Receive
All: 1) Certificate or trophy
2) Spotlight in the Building Brilliance Showcase
3) Feature on Social Media & other marketing initiatives
4) Invite to events in 2027
Students: 1) 1 week scholarship to a BYOC class
2) Serve as BYOC Ambassador
3) Join BYOC Youth Advisory Team
4) Invite to Silicon Valley trip
Businesses: 1) Join BYOC Advisory Council
2) Spotlight in the Building Brilliance Showcase
3) Feature on Social Media & other marketing initiatives
4) Invite to events in 2027
Students: 1) 1 week scholarship to a BYOC class
2) Serve as BYOC Ambassador
3) Join BYOC Youth Advisory Team
4) Invite to Silicon Valley trip
Businesses: 1) Join BYOC Advisory Council
Business Nomination Form
Student Nomination Form
