Every Saturday morning, the clinking of glass bowls and the faint scent of baking soda fills senior Eshna Das’s kitchen. There, senior Mattie Trefz lines up pouches of Purifight while junior Evan Williams sticks homemade labels onto them. Other members measure, pour and package, each step bringing them closer to the finished product.
Purifight is not a science experiment or a prototype on which students merely speculate; it is a tangible product created by students in the Junior Achievement Club, a nation-wide organization where members are tasked with engineering an innovative business product which they market and eventually sell.
Purifight is JA’s latest endeavor. Made from a recipe of sodium bicarbonate, acetic acid and citric acid, its main purpose is to reduce mold growth and provide an effective and lasting cleanse to containers, surfaces and other bacteria-nesting areas. The tablets are designed to react when they contact water.
“We use all natural ingredients to make a cleaning tablet that helps disinfect and reduce mold,” Williams said. “You can use it for so many different things. It is versatile and simple.”
The group operates with a board of directors, a structure that mirrors real companies, including Chiefs of Operations, Marketing, Supply Chain and Finance.
“On assembly days, it is not one person doing the same thing every time,” Williams said. “Some people are cutting twine, some are bagging the tablets and some are mixing chemicals. Everyone just jumps in where they are needed.”
The idea arose when members realized how dirty their water bottles got even after daily washes. The group discovered that within their dark, humid and small crevices, water bottles easily form mold and algae, sparking the need for an innovative solution.
“It started as an idea in a brainstorming session, and then we developed it and put it to use,” Trefz said.
Working with the chemistry and biology teachers at the School, JA perfected a formula that would optimize its cleaning effects.
Yet the biggest challenge was not the chemistry; it was the logistics. With students involved in academics, athletics, music and more, aligning schedules proved difficult.
“Organizing days when we were all free to meet up and sell was definitely tough,” Williams said. “But everyone is driven, so once we set a time, people show up ready to work.”
After adding the finishing touches, the students bring Purifight to the Houston Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market where they pitch directly to their community, answering questions and handling transactions.
To get from prototype to profit, students engage in many soft skills typically not taught in classroom environments.
“I learned a lot about talking to people and pitching a product,” Trefz said. “You have to convince someone that this is worth buying, and that’s something you don’t usually practice in school.”
Interacting with customers has been the most rewarding part for Trefz.
“We once talked with this older man at the farmers market who was a veteran. He told us stories about his service,” she said. “It’s not always about selling; it’s about connecting with people.”
Faculty sponsor and Upper School English teacher Allyson LaBorde views live customer interactions as the most valuable part of the project.
“They learn to think about their audience,” LaBorde said. “Just like in English, they consider rhetoric: how do I explain my product in a way that stands out? Why would someone choose this over everything else available?”
LaBorde, who has been present in meetings, events and competitions, has witnessed firsthand the creative growth the students experience–especially when they maneuver products.
“Switching from Kar Kits to Purifight really came from an original place,” she said. “The willingness to let go of something for the sake of something better was fundamental to their success.”
All profit is reinvested in the club, used to purchase new ingredients and supplies. In the past three years, JA has generated over $3000, a majority of the profit stemming from Purifight.
“What makes Purifight special is how multifaceted it is,” Trefz said. “You can clean your garbage disposal, water bottles and even dilute it into a spray. That versatility is what draws people in.”
Looking ahead, Trefz is confident that the younger members of JA will keep the momentum going.
“The juniors are really strong, and we’re bringing in a lot of freshmen,” she said. “I’m excited to see how it continues.”
Continuing the Purifight necessitates hard work and planning, but Laborde believes the opportunity is worth it.
“Being an entrepreneur means the world is your oyster. You can do what you want, but you also have to handle the responsibility,” Laborde said. “Purifight gives them a real opportunity to take that road.”
This story was originally published on The Review on October 10, 2025.
