05/31/2007
CONTACT: Jason Brewer, 202-406-4435
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 Maryland 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.
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NFIB/Maryland Member Support Manager Angie Berkey presents a $1,000 scholarship from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation to Michael Schuster, a senior at Century High School in Sykesville, Md. The award was presented at a special ceremony for seniors on June 7. Mike started his first business when he was 15 years old providing lawn care and snow-removal services to people within his community. He is currently planning his next venture which will focus on establishing an airsoft recreation facility near his home in Eldersburg, Md. |
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards:
- James Hubert Blake High School senior Alan Brylawski III of Silver Spring
- Damascus High School senior Michael Greenberg of Gaithersburg
- Centennial High School senior Grant Vickers of Ellicott City
- Dulaney High School senior Nicole Hoeck of Baldwin
- Western Sr. High School senior Shanelle Marks of Baltimore
- Thomas Johnson High School senior Paul "Drew" Nichols of Frederick
- Chesapeake Sr. High School senior Jill Ruskey of Pasadena
- Yeshivat Ramban senior Yitzy Schleifer of Baltimore
- Century High School senior Michael Schuster of Eldersburg
NFIB/Visa USA Young Entrepreneur Awards:
- Montgomery Blair High School senior Eric Hysen of Silver Spring
- Mt. Hebron High School senior Kari Upchurch of Ellicott City
NFIB/Maryland Leadership Council Young Entrepreneur Award:
- Glenelg High School senior Afton Vechery of Woodbine
NFIB/Larry and Rosemarie Helminiak Young Entrepreneur Award:
- North Carroll High School senior Donald Caltrider of Hampstead
