05/29/2007
CONTACT: Jim Brown, 615-874-5288
Graduating High School Seniors Each Receive $1,000 for College
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the Georgia recipients of the fifth annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards, a scholarship program to set future small-business owners on the path to entrepreneurship. The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award recipients will attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with $1,000 in tuition assistance from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation.
The program which encourages students to consider a career in small business, made its debut in 2003 when it awarded a total of 110 scholarships nationwide. This year 422 scholarships will be awarded, thanks to financial support from numerous small-business leaders, corporate and foundation supporters. The major corporate sponsors are Visa USA, The Wells Fargo Foundation and Salesgenie.com.
"We are overjoyed by the tremendous amount of interest in our scholarship program. This year more than 3,000 students applied to receive a YEF award, demonstrating that the entrepreneurship spirit continues to thrive in America," said Don V. Cogman, chair, NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Board of Directors. "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."
In addition to the 422 $1,000 scholarships, NFIB YEF and Visa USA will also be awarding four $5,000 scholarships to this year's semifinalists and one $10,000 scholarship to the student selected as the "2007 Young Entrepreneur of the Year" at a dinner held in Washington, D.C., on June 5.
To earn a scholarship, students were required to write an essay describing their entrepreneurial endeavors and future goals. Standardized test scores, GPA and class rank were also considered. NFIB members around the country nominated applicants for the Young Entrepreneur Awards.
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards:
- Green Pastures Christian School senior Samaria Divine of Lithonia
- Forest Park High School senior Tranell Douglas of Forest Park
- Brookwood High School senior Michael Heiser of Lawrenceville
- McIntosh High School senior Jeffrey Ivie of Peachtree City
- Starr's Mill High School senior Stefan Lhota of Fayetteville
- Americus-Sumter County High School – South senior Tejal Patel of Americus
- Putnam County High School senior Rachel Patrick of Eatonton
- Home School senior Jolicia Redd of Riverdale
NFIB/VISA USA Young Entrepreneur Award:
- Franklin County High School senior Carey Drake of Royston
NFIB/Christopher H. Harkins Young Entrepreneur Award:
- South Forsyth High School senior Andrew Hollar of Suwannee
NFIB/Robert Stiles Young Entrepreneur Award:
- Lafayette High School senior Andrew Rogers of Lafayette
NFIB/Gerry Harkins Young Entrepreneur Award:
- Brookwood High School senior Ashton Thomas of Thomasville
