This October, Grade 12 Holy Cross Catholic Academy student Victoria Scorziello will travel from Woodbridge, Ontario to Bengaluru, India, where she and her teammate will represent North America at the Technovation World Summit. Together, they will present their innovative healthcare solution to technology leaders and young entrepreneurs from around the world.
In January 2026, Victoria signed up for the Technovation Waterloo Regional Pitch Event, part of an international competition intended to encourage girls under 18 to engage with technology and AI. The students were given three months to identify a problem in their community and create a solution using technology. They also had to develop a business plan to support their idea.
As an athlete who regularly travels for games, Victoria understood how stressful it can be to experience an injury in an unfamiliar area and not know where to find appropriate care.
The students’ solution was to create CareCompass, a healthcare navigation app that brings together information about hospital wait times, travel times and the services available at different facilities. Its purpose is to help patients find the care best suited to their needs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
While the app was initially designed for travelling athletes, the students realized that anxiety about finding healthcare in an unfamiliar area affects many people. They also think that CareCompass could help reduce pressure on healthcare workers by directing patients to the facility that can best respond to their needs.
In May 2026, the students won the Senior Grand Prize at the Waterloo competition. By July, they were named North American Champions.
“It’s all super surreal,” Victoria shared. “I’m extremely honoured and excited for this incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to see where my creativity and problem-solving skills continue to take me.”
Victoria hopes her experience will inspire other students to believe in their ideas, even if they do not consider themselves technology experts.
“You don’t have to be an expert in technology to get started,” she said. “If you recognize an issue in your community, do something about it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from trying to make the world a better place.”
Holy Cross CA Principal Sandra Abate shared the school community’s excitement about Victoria’s achievement.
“We are incredibly proud of Victoria’s outstanding achievement,” said Principal Abate. “Becoming a North American Champion and representing Holy Cross Catholic Academy on the global stage is a remarkable accomplishment. Her innovation, determination and commitment to making a positive impact truly embody the spirit of our school.”
Victoria’s accomplishment is a wonderful example of a YCDSB student using her God-given gifts to serve others and respond to a need in her community.