+ Contact: Deborah Drye 252-977-6226 - office 919-441-7613 - cell [email protected] MEDIA ALERT/ PHOTO OPPORTUNITY April 27, 2015 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVE FUNDING FROM INVESTORS Young Entrepreneurs from North Carolina Wesleyan College are Awarded Funding to Launch Startups Rocky Mount, NC, April 27, 2015 – On Thursday, April 23, 2015.at 6:30 pm student entrepreneurs took to the stage to present their business plans before a panel of local leaders of industry and a public audience. The students were dressed as young professionals, and really wowed the crowd! 6 students in grades 6 through 12 representing 6 businesses and social movements from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) at the Gateway Technology Center had six minutes to pitch their business plans to local members of the business community, during the program’s annual YEA! Investor Panel Event (think Shark Tank!). Based on the appeal and merit of the students’ plans and presentations, representatives from organizations like Word Tabernacle Church determined the amount of funds to allocate to each business or social movement. North Carolina Wesleyan College Young Entrepreneurs Academy Class of 2015 Deleon Burnette Rocky Mount High School Business Owner Deleon Burnette, CEO Jeneviéve Surkin, CEO Julianna Surkin, CEO Sasha Surkin, CEO Von Weaver, CEO Stephen Whitehead, CEO Jenevieve Surkin Roseleaf Academy Julianna Surkin Roseleaf Academy Company Value U Viéve Accessories Easy Peasy Chineasy Kit & Kaboodle Bags Play Bench RISU Clothing Sasha Surkin Roseleaf Academy Von Weaver Rocky Mount High School Stephen Whitehead Northern Nash High School Business Description Amount Funded Non-Profit self help $403.03 Imported hair accessories $350.00 Chinese flash cards for children $965.85 Non-sew bag-making kits for children $265.00 Kits for making wooden benches $528.00 Clothing designer $536.00 In addition to fund s allocated by the investor panel, the Eastern North Carolina Center for Business and Entrepreneurship at North Carolina Wesleyan College also funded an additional $100.00 per student. © 2004-2015 The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved + The participating investors selected one business: Easy Peasy Chineasy, owned by Julianna Surkin for an additional prize. This business will advance to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Saunders Scholars National College Scholarship competition, where they will compete for hundreds of thousands of dollars in college scholarships, a fast-track application pass to apply to be on ABC’s Shark Tank, and an all-expenses paid trip to attend America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, DC courtesy of the United States Chamber of Commerce. Julianna Surkin Saunders Scholars Semi-Finalist Winner A special Sam’s Club prize was awarded to the most promising student business. Ms. Monica Johnson at store #4946 in Rocky Mount, NC, was instrumental in assisting the Young Entrepreneurs Academy with obtaining the $500 gift card and free membership which were awarded to Von Weaver, CEO, Play Bench. Von Weaver Sam’s Club $500 Shopping Spree & Free Membership Winner The Investor Panel comprised of local business people, including: Dr. Monique Brown, Word Tabernacle Church Dr. Jackie Lewis, North Carolina Wesleyan College David Walker, North Carolina Wesleyan College The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a groundbreaking and exciting year long class that transforms middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and social movements. Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy today serves thousands of students in communities across America. For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, please call 585.272.3535 or visit www.yeausa.org © 2004-2015 The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved + U.S. Chamber of Commerce The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Partnership In 2011, the United States Chamber of Commerce and Campaign for Free Enterprise became a national sponsor and partner of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy to help promote the spirit of enterprise among today’s youth and tomorrow’s future leaders. Through coordination with its network of local chambers of commerce, the U.S. Chamber has helped communities across the country adopt the YEA! program. Together, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are celebrating the power and promise of young people in business and encouraging the next greatest generation to make a job, not just take a job. ### © 2004-2015 The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, Inc. All Rights Reserved
© Copyright 2024