DEWITT - Clinton County is not lacking for bright, young students with creative ideas for future business ventures. That became evident recently when 11 students submitted business plans to the first Youth Business Venture Competition. The top three entries in two categories - products and sruvice - were chosen.
"The competition was very cool," said James Jackson, a DeWitt High School senior and one of the winners.
"It was easier than I anticipated," Ashlynn Weller, a junior at Ovid-Elsie High School, said about the competition. "I learned a lot from the whole process."
Last fall, Clinton County Economic Alliance announced a Youth Business Venture Competition. Submissions were divided into two categories, product and service. After each of the students presented its proposal, the top three entries in each of two categories were selected.
Goal of competition
The goal of the competition, according to John Czarnecki, executive director of CCEA, was to encourage students to think like entrepreneurs, to come up with ideas for new businesses.
Judges for the competition were Barb Fails of Land Policy Institute at Michigan State University; Amanda Avila, a diversification specialist at Prima Civitas; and Tom Donaldson, regional director of Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center.
Product category
In the product category, James Jackson of DeWitt High School earned first place with his proposal for Swillow Outerwear.
"Swillow is a sweatshirt that can convert to a pillow," said Jackson, "and while you are wearing it, you can roll down the hood and it makes a rest for you neck."
Jackson is enrolled in Business Management and Entrepreneurship, a class offered through Clinton County RESA's Career Connection program and taught by Kelly Williams at DeWitt High School. He said the class really helped him prepare his business plan.
As for his swillow idea, he hopes to market it. He got someone to make a sample for him, because he doesn't sew, and he is looking into getting a patent.
"It looks like a regular sweatshirt, but it has special 'beads' in the cuffs and band and hood. The material is non-static and it's very light-weight but has thermo technology."
Second place went to Brianne Feldpausch of Fowler High School for her proposal, Baskets by Brianne.
Feldpausch makes custom baskets, something she started when she was about 13 and in 4-H. She weaves custom baskets and also sells patterns and kits for baskets and gives classes in basket making.
"I thought the competition was very cool and very professional," she said.
Ashlynn Weller of Ovid-Elsie High School rounded out the top three product proposal for Road Kill, Inc.
"It is something my dad and I came up with after seeing all the dead animals along the road," said Weller.
Her idea is to burn the bodies and sell the ash as fertilizer.
"The judges suggested that maybe I could sell the fur or maybe the bones before burning the rest," said Weller.
Service category
The top three winners in the service category are students at DeWitt High School.
In the service category, Casey Harless took first place with his proposal called Down River Fishing Guide.
Megan Verchereau's proposal called Exquisite Events took second place.
Third place went to Nick McCoy's proposal for Superior Aerospace.
"I've said for about six years that I want to be an aerospace engineer," said McCoy, a junior. "This competition gave me a chance to work on that dream."
McCoy is a member of Business Professionals of America and competed in entrepreneurship in that as well.
"I thought the competition was very professional," he said. "I really liked the judges. They gave me some good advice on grants and things I didn't know about."
Tyler Ott of Ovid-Elsie Middle School won the award in the middle school category. His proposal was called Tyler's Snow Plow Guards.
"The Alliance is trying to promote entrepreneurship in Clinton County," said Czarnecki. "If people think America is no longer business competitive, all they would have to do is listen to the ideas of these young folks to know America will continue to be extremely business competitive.
"After they complete their education, we hope these young folks come back to Clinton County to start a new business and create jobs for future generations."
The top winners in the competition will receive cash awards. Those will be presented some time in February.
Lansing State Journal