February 24, 2015

by Joseph Master

On the heels of a successful Shark Tank appearance that saw Christopher Gray secure a $40,000 investment in Scholly from Lori Greiner and Daymond John, the LeBow College of Business and Close School of Entrepreneurship senior made an announcement of a different variety yesterday to high school seniors at Center City’s Science Leadership Academy.

Standing next to Saxbys Founder and CEO Nick Bayer on a makeshift platform, Gray announced: “My friend Nick has a gift for you guys.”

Bayer, who last year announced a collaboration with Drexel University to open an on-campus Saxbys location, told the students that Saxbys will provide the app free of charge to all current and future Science Leadership Academy students.

“I got to know Chris through my involvement with Drexel’s entrepreneurship program and it’s hard not to fall in love with what he’s doing,” Bayer said.

“Saxbys’ mission is to make life better, which aligns with what Scholly and [the Science Leadership Academy] are doing. So we’re happy to give the app to every senior this year and every year to come.”

As students applauded and local news crews filmed, SLA staff and Scholly interns circulated the room to hand out free download codes and help students download the app.

"It’s amazing going to events like the one today with Chris and seeing the look on students faces when they hear the money they can save with the help of Scholly, and how a dream of going to college can become that much more attainable,” Seth Schlussel, a freshman entrepreneurship major and Scholly intern, said at the event. "A lot of things today that benefit people are out there and the problem is access to those benefits. That’s what Scholly is addressing. I am proud to be a part of it."

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The Science Leadership Academy is a magnet public high school in Philadelphia, which opened in September 2006. SLA is a partnership between the Franklin Institute and the School District of Philadelphia.