Topeka and Shawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Announces Results
Junior Achievement of Kansas, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, hosted the inaugural Topeka and Shawnee County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, in Topeka, KS.
Students presented their business concepts with a written business plan, a 4-minute presentation to judges, and a tabletop display. The winning concepts were: 1st Prize ($1,500, $1,000 renewable scholarship to Washburn University and a spot at the state challenge competition): Ainsley Charest, Swimming Lessons by Ainsley, Hayden Catholic High School; 2nd Prize ($1,250): Aurora Bisnett, Sleepy Fox Art Co., McClure Elementary; and 3rd Prize ($1,000): Isabelle Reiser, Izzyfaith Designs, Most Pure Heart of Mary School.
Winning students $3,750 in prize money courtesy of the following sponsors: Network Kansas, Junior Achievement of Kansas, Advisors Excel, Summerson Family Foundation, Topeka Credit Union Foundation and Washburn University. The students’ work was judged by local entrepreneurs, public sector partners, and business leaders in the Topeka community.
"All of our student entrants were amazing and had such strong business plans and were very poised in presenting to our judges and talking to those that visited the trade show,” said Ashley Charest, President, Junior Achievement of Kansas. “I cannot wait to see how our state competitor does in the April state challenge event.”
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 schools across the state. The goal of the competition is to expose Kansas middle school and high school students to entrepreneurship and give them a hands-on experience.
For more information, contact Ashley Charest, Junior Achievement of Kansas at (785) 235-3700 or ashley@kansasja.org.
For more information about NetWork Kansas or the E-Community Partnership, visit www.networkkansas.com.
