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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
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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
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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.
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© 2004-2015 The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, Inc.
All Rights Reserved