President Michael Schneider challenges incoming freshman to McPherson College to have the “freedom to jump”. Recently I witnessed 12 groups of Kansas high school students put their inhibitions aside to take the leap. A leap of faith that resulted in receipt of a $5,000 cash reward to Youth Entrepreneurs East High School Alumni, Colin Johnson and his partner Damien Gilbert.
Presenting their plan via rolling Animoto visuals to the tune of OneRepublic’s Good Life the duo explained and sold their recycled steel bottle business to all in attendance. They nailed the numbers, pinpointed the research and demonstrated the scalability. The crowd was enraptured by the business idea and equally impressed with the poise, presentation style and confidence of its founders. Apparently, so were the judges. Walking away, check in tow, I heard the challenge from President Schneider as he congratulated the duo by exclaiming...”do this...really do this...make a bottle.” They earned it and deserved to win. Congratulations to SteelSalvation. You’ve made us proud.
Excitingly, Colin wasn’t the only YE student in the room. Ideas abounded and students leapt. Two other East High students, current YE students, Deshae Caldcleught and Natalie Lash competed with their tutoring café concept called “One Smart Cookie”. I tasted the healthy culinary creations they’ll be serving the students they tutor. These girls have a great concept. They, too, will go places.
Checking in all the way from Wyandotte High School, last year’s YE Finals competitor Trina Durham wowed the judges with her social entrepreneurship concept proposing privatized foster care reform. “Why can you do this better than the current system?”, she was asked. Simple, she replied, by shifting the burden of care from government to capable, passionate citizens. Her plan, inclusive of economic incentives for her foster children, demonstrated her understanding of the true pathway to prosperity!
By flashing photos of scantily clad, pregnant, intoxicated and drugged teen girls, our YE intern, Alexandria Webb, caught the attention of those in the room while presenting her venture, K.U.L.E girls. Focusing on design, government and business, K.U.L.E girls is redefining success in the minds of young women. Although K.U.L.E girls didn’t take home the social entrepreneur title, you wouldn’t have known it from the reaction in the room. Even, kcteenlife.org, the group that won, found their way to Alex at the event’s end to exchange business cards and strategize future partnering!
Finally, to talk about life after the leap, Kalene Smith, a Campus High School YE alum gave the students insight into next steps and expectations. Kalene, an A.S.E Certified personal trainer, is operating a web-based training platform. Her story took the audience from sitting in Kathy Shockley’s Campus High YE class to negotiating her own gym contract. Additionally, she and her partner have written a recipe book and have sold over 100 copies in the last 4 months. Her story resonated with the young competitors in the room who posed question after question about her journey.
It was FUN! What is better than spending your morning with such a group of impressive Kansas teen entrepreneurs? Those of us in the room left feeling inspired and hopeful. I, personally, left smiling.
To learn more about the Jumpstart Kansas program, check out http://blogs.mcpherson.edu/entrepreneurship/jump-start-kansas/
- Kylie Stupka, Youth Entrepreneurs Executive Director
Great post, Kylie!
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