Story By Grady Camp

FORT PAYNE — Fort Payne High School sophomore Sophia Al-Halaseh is proving that teenagers have more to offer than many give them credit for. As founder of the Beyond the Box Movement, a nonprofit built and led by teens, Al-Halaseh recently became the first DeKalb County student to reach the finals of the Singing River Trail Launch Tank competition.

As a finalist in the “shark tank”-like competition, she won $1,500 for her entrepreneurial effort.

Al-Halaseh said her inspiration came after experiences on student teams where adult mentors often took over. She created a teen-run club for professional networking, which eventually expanded into a nonprofit now connecting more than 200 students across five states.

Beyond the Box focuses on empowering teens to volunteer, collaborate with professionals, and launch their own outreach initiatives. “Teens are often underestimated,” Al-Halaseh said. “Everyone talks about our potential, but why do we have to wait for it to be valued?”

Although she did not win the Launch Tank competition, Al-Halaseh said the experience 

fueled her passion for expanding Beyond the Box. She hopes to organize a statewide event showcasing Alabama’s teen-led organizations.

Al-Halaseh encouraged other students to “just go for it,” advising them to find mentors to help navigate the practical steps. Her message to the community is to involve teenagers more meaningfully. “There are a lot of us ready to contribute beyond mock meetings or clubs,” she said. “We have real value to offer.”

For more information about Beyond the Box Movement, visit beyondtheboxmovement.com/home.