01/10/2006
CONTACT: Mike Hickey, (651) 293-1283
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The National Federation of Independent Business is once again calling all up-and-coming business owners to apply for the annual Young Entrepreneur Scholarship. Each year, NFIB's Young Entrepreneur Foundation awards scholarships to high school seniors who exhibit entrepreneurial spirit and initiative in a variety of ways such as scholastic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement or launching their own small business. At least 400 $1,000 awards will be given nationwide. In addition, four regional awards of $5,000 and one national $10,000 scholarship will be awarded. The scholarships can be applied to a student's tuition at any accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational/technical institute.
Students may download an application from the foundation's web site at www.NFIB.com/YEF. Follow the "Young Entrepreneur Award" links. Applications will be accepted through March 15, 2006, and must include a nomination from an NFIB/Minnesota small-business owner. For more information and the name of an NFIB member in your area, call (800) NFIB-NOW.
"The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Scholarship is another way that NFIB is working to support and encourage the entrepreneurial spirit," said Mike Hickey, state director for NFIB/Minnesota. "Last year, nine Minnesota students received awards and we are looking forward to awarding even more this year. There are many bright, innovative and motivated students in our state who should seriously consider this opportunity. I hope they will take the initiative to fill out the application and get the process started."
NFIB is a 600,000-member organization that has represented small businesses in Washington, D.C., and the state capitals since 1942. The Young Entrepreneur Scholarship program began in 2003 when NFIB awarded a total of 110 scholarships to students nationwide. In 2004, the number of awardees more than doubled to 221. Last year, NFIB's Young Entrepreneur Foundation awarded 381 scholarships, and set a goal of awarding as many as 500 in 2006.
The awards are made possible thanks to financial support from numerous small-business leaders and corporate and foundation supporters. The major corporate sponsor is VISA USA, which donated $100,000 to the national program, including $5,000 for regional winners and $10,000 for one Youth Entrepreneur of the Year winner.
