Way to Go: Nia Froome of North Valley Stream

Nia Froome of North Valley Stream used her kitchen skills to cook up a first-place win on the national level.

Froome, a senior at Poly Prep Country Day School in Brooklyn, beat out 28 finalists to win the $10,000 grand prize earlier this month at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge sponsored by OppenheimerFunds and the nonprofit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship.

She won for her work as founder of Mamma Nia's Vegan Bakery, an online business she launched last year after being inspired by her mother, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 10 years ago and is now in remission.

"Business has been crazy so far, mostly due to word-of-mouth," said Froome, 17, who succeeded at local and regional levels to reach the Oct. 5 nationals. "I was mostly shocked to win."

Froome currently bakes vegan items ranging from cookies to cinnamon rolls in her parents' kitchen and each week fills about five orders, each typically for a dozen baked goods. She plans to relocate to a commercial kitchen this winter.

In the challenge, Froome presented a business plan and free samples to judges. She plans to donate part of her winnings to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a nonprofit that supports breast cancer research.