NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation 2016 Scholarship Application Now Open with Increase in Scholarship Amounts
INDIANAPOLIS (October 1, 2015)
— The National Federation of
Independent Business (NFIB) Young Entrepreneur Foundation announced that
its scholarship application for the 2016 NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards is now
available. High school seniors in Indiana who run their own business and
plan to attend a two- or four-year university, college, or vocational institute
during the fall of 2016 are eligible to apply.
“These ambitious young business
owners continue to impress us with their innovation, spirit and work ethic each
year,” said Director of the Young Entrepreneur Foundation Molly Young. “It
is so important that we support tomorrow’s business leaders and encourage them
to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams.”
According to NFIB Indiana state
director Barbara Quandt-Underwood, “The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation
offers scholarships that recognize hard working high school seniors who are
already demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit and initiative by having
established and run their own businesses in Indiana. The tenacity and
dedication of these young business people should be applauded and we are proud
to be part of such a program.”
The scholarship program’s goal is
to raise awareness among the nation’s youth of the critical role that private
enterprise and entrepreneurship play in the American economy. As an added
bonus this year, VISA Inc. has agreed to double the Awards. Ninety five of the
scholarship winners will now receive a $2,000 award and five students will be
chosen as Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalists. The finalists will
qualify for NFIB’s two top scholarship awards and attend a ceremony in Washington,
DC where the winners will be named. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year
recipient will receive $25,000, the Dan Danner Leadership Award winner will
receive $15,000 and the remaining three finalists will each receive $10,000.
“The increase in the amount of
money we will be providing to young entrepreneurs across the country shows
NFIB’s and VISA’s commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship and the
future of small business” said Young.
What do students need to know?
- Students are able to apply
October 1, 2015 thru December 18, 2015. - The independent
selection committee will review all applications and select
semi-finalists. Semi-finalists will be notified by mid-January. - Semi-finalists must be
interviewed by an NFIB member, who will be assigned to each semi-finalist. - The Award recipients are
selected by an independent scholarship organization. Scholarships are
merit-based, not based on financial need.
Since
2003, the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation has awarded more than 2,700
scholarships totaling $2.7 million. Last year the Foundation awarded 100
deserving student entrepreneurs $145,000.
“Any high school senior who runs their own business and
plans to further their education is encouraged to apply for this scholarship,”
Young continued. “We could not be more excited to open this year’s
application and see what wonderful things the class of 2016 has to offer.
We wish all of the applicants the best of luck!”
More information about the YEF
scholarship program and past recipients is available here.
