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. More than 600 students nationwide applied for a YEF
scholarship this year and NFIB is proud to award three
scholarships to young entrepreneurs in California thanks to donations by our
small business member owners.
“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 California are:
- Noah Levinson,
Senior at Canyon Crest Academy; NFIB/CA
Leadership Council Award; Attending
New York University; Runs
NL Productions/Levitate, which is a musical promotional company that creates
large-scale music events whose profits
go to organizations who held disadvantaged youth.
- Shayne Myers,
Senior at Colusa High School; NFIB/CA
Leadership Council Award; Attending
Oklahoma State University; Business
is Shayne Myers Cattle Company.
- Shreya Ramayya,
Senior at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School; Young
Entrepreneur Scholarship Program; Attending
Harvard University; Founded
Mylaria, whose mission is to educate people in endemic areas about malaria
prevention and provide them with the tools necessary to reduce transmission.
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 added.
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.
A full list of this year’s
winners, as well as past winners, is available here.
