The National Federation of
Independent Business’ Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the
recipients of the 13th annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards, a
scholarship program designed to reward and encourage entrepreneurial talents
among high school students.
“America’s young people have caught the
entrepreneurial bug, and we could not be more confident in our next generation
of business owners,” said Molly Young, director
of the Young Entrepreneur Foundation. “We are impressed year after year
with the quality of these hard-working, innovative high school students who are
making their entrepreneurial dreams happen.”
The
2015 YEF Award winners from Georgia are:
- Jared Sawyer,
Druid Hills High School in Atlanta, winner of the $1,000 NFIB/FBLA Young
Entrepreneur Award. Jared runs Jared Sawyer Jr. Ministries, which produces CDs
and DVDs and offers leadership coaching, and plans to attend Morehouse College. - Kelsie
Nolan, Gilmer High School in Ellijay, winner of the $1,000 Young Entrepreneur
Scholarship Program. Kelsie owns Paint Your Sole and plans to attend Columbia
University.
“We’re proud
to support these young entrepreneurs,” said Kyle Jackson, state director of
NFIB/Georgia, the state’s leading small-business association. “It’s hard for
anyone to run a successful small business, but it’s even harder when you’re
still in school.”
In addition
to recognizing these outstanding young entrepreneurs, the Young Entrepreneur
Foundation will honor five students selected as Young Entrepreneurs of the Year
Award finalists at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on July 23rd.
During the event, the winners of the “2015 NFIB Young Entrepreneur of the Year”
and “2015 NFIB Dan Danner Leadership Award” will be named and each awarded a
$15,000 scholarship. The remaining three finalists will each receive a $5000.00
scholarship.
“NFIB
congratulates this year’s winners for their tremendous accomplishments and
hopes the scholarships will assist these young entrepreneurs as they continue
on their paths towards successful futures,” Young said.
To
qualify for an NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award, students must be seniors in high
school who own and/or operate their own small business. They are required to
write an essay describing their entrepreneurial endeavors and future goals.
NFIB members around the country interview the applicants for the Young
Entrepreneur Awards.
