06/02/2008
CONTACT: Todd Pack, 615-872-5897
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the Arkansas recipients of the sixth annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards, a scholarship program designed to reward and encourage entrepreneurial talents among high school students. The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award recipients will attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with $1,000-$10,000 in tuition assistance from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation.
The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards 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 over 400 $1,000-$2,000 scholarships will be awarded, thanks to the financial support from numerous small business leaders, corporate and foundation supporters. This year's major corporate sponsors are Visa and The McKelvey Foundation.
"We are overjoyed by the tremendous amount of interest in our scholarship program. This year more than 8,000 students applied to receive a NFIB YEF Award, demonstrating that today's youth embody the entrepreneurial spirit and seek a place in tomorrow's free enterprise system," 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 recognizing these outstanding young entrepreneurs, NFIB YEF and Visa will award four $5,000 scholarships and one $10,000 scholarship to the student selected as the "2008 Young Entrepreneur of the Year" at a dinner held in Washington, D.C., on June 3.
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.
The 2008 YEF Award winners from Arkansas are:
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards
- Paris High School student Cortney Barnhill of Paris
- Fayetteville Senior High School student Kelsey Norbash of Fayetteville
- West Memphis Christian School student Andrew Oliver of Marion
- Conway Senior High School West student Nick Schroeder of Conway
- Haas Hall Academy student Laferil Smith of Prairie Grove
NFIB/Visa Young Entrepreneur Award
- McGehee Senior High School student Crockett Hackett of Dermott
The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization promoting the importance of small business and free enterprise to the nation's youth. More information is available at www.NFIB.com/YEF.
The Foundation is associated with the National Federation of Independent Business; NFIB is the nation's leading small business advocacy association, with offices in Washington, D.C., and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB's powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America's free enterprise system.
