Youth Entrepreneur Challenge Winners Announced
The McPherson Chamber of Commerce in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, hosted the first annual McPherson Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on Wednesday, November 14 at the McPherson Opera House. 17 business projects and 22 students representing the McPherson High School Business Class presented their business concepts with a written business plan, a 4 minute presentation to judges and a tabletop tradeshow.
The winning business concepts were:
1st Prize $750: Scott Radke and Neill Raymond, GripZ; 2nd Prize $500: Honestee Whittker and Zach Brewer, Travel USA ; 3rd Prize $250: Drew Schrader and Cooper Courtney, In-Out Diner and Peoples Choice: EJ Kretzer, Bare Bones Skate & Clothing Shop.
“I believe the entrepreneurship competition is a very valuable experience not only in the creation of a business, but the steps involved in writing a business plan, figuring the financial piece and the public speaking in the 4 minute presentation,” said Jennifer Burch, Executive Director of the McPherson Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to prizes and recognition, the first place finisher has the opportunity to compete in the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This event will include the top young entrepreneurs from 35 other competitions across the state.
The goal of the competition is to expose Kansas high school students to entrepreneurship and give them a hands on experience. The students’ work was judged by local entrepreneurs, public sector partners, committee & board members. This is the first time McPherson has been host to this competition. See photos taken by the McPherson Sentinel at this link.