Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge awards $2,400 to local students

by John Kennedy | March 22, 2023

Monday, March 20, Greeley County Schools’ eighth, ninth, and eleventh grade students participated in Greeley County’s Fifth Annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.  

Nearly 50 students presented projects showcasing their creative ideas, interesting concepts, including ideas for businesses that could be based in Greeley County.

These students, their teachers, and Greeley County Schools’ administration worked tirelessly and should be applauded for their continued work and support of this project! The students’ hard work resulted in an interesting array of projects and their dedication and hard work is evidenced by the complexity and variety of their ideas. 

Cash prizes were awarded in three divisions: for the eighth grade students, for the freshmen, and for the junior class. The Hit the Ground Running Award was presented to two projects that judges felt could and should get started immediately by the presenting student.

 Junior Division Winners:

First Place ($500) – Mexicano by Ana Trejo and Iliany Yanez

Second Place ($400) – Grab and Go by Reagan Crotinger

Third Place ($300) – Nelson Diesel Repair by Kashen Nelson

Freshman Division Winners:

First Place ($250) – Red Rabbit Leather by Hannah Ferguson and James Marquardt

Second Place ($200) – Tiny Tots Daycare by Brooklin Moritz and Hailey Nolan

Third Place –($150) – 6A Rodeo by Traceur Alexander and Kaine Chavez

Hit the Ground Running ($150) – Red Rabbit Leather by Hannah Ferguson and James Marquardt

8th Grade Champions were:

First Place ($150) – Layton’s Custom Fitting by Layton Hopkins

Second Place – ($100) – Your Cemetery Blessing by Mia Reynolds

Third Place – ($50) – Ruggedly Yours by Britney Helpingstine and Yareli Labra

Hit the Ground Running ($150) – Layton’s Custom Fitting by Layton Hopkins

The Hit the Ground Running awards were presented to business concepts that needed a small amount of capital to begin and were relatively turn-key. 

Greeley County Community Development’s deepest gratitude goes out to Network Kansas for sponsorship of the prize money as well as their generous ongoing support this event and other entrepreneurial efforts.

This event would not be possible without the tireless and dedicated efforts of teachers Drew and Melissa Zerr!  We are grateful for Greeley County Schools’ ongoing partnership with this project and enjoyed being onsite at the school this year.

Thanks, too, go out to our band of judges for taking on the daunting task of reviewing 35 projects in a couple of hours.  This year’s judges were Christy Preston of Network Kansas, Nikki Bjurstrom of Wichita County Economic Development, Dan Smith of Unified Greeley County and the Kansas Masons, Beth Aeschliman of Aeschliman Aero, Todd Schmidt of Greeley County Extension, Jessica Young of Redeeming Grounds, and Trice Watts of Greeley County Health Services.

Brandy Clevenger reflected on her entrepreneurial experiences before the awards. Thanks, Brandy, for your time and message.

Greeley County’s Fifth Annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was hosted by Greeley County Community Development and Greeley County E-Community in partnership with Network Kansas and Greeley County Schools. For more information on the event, contact John Kennedy at (620) 376-2548.