06/04/2008
CONTACT: Michelle Orrock, 916-448 9904
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the California 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 California are:
NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards:
- Armijo High School senior Kyle Baldwin of Fairfield
- Roosevelt High School senior Irlanda Barrios of Fresno
- Calvary Chapel Christian School senior Jessica Berry of Wildomar
- Dana Hills High School senior Spencer Debrosse of Dana Point
- Menlo-Atherton High School senior Noah Greenberg of Woodside
- Valley Center High School senior Nathan Hochstetler of Valley Center
- Carlmont High School senior Haley Hughes of Belmont
- San Rafael High School senior Kimball Kaufman of San Rafael
- Dana Hills High School senior Eric McLeod of Laguna Nigel
- Laguna Hills High School senior Jack Michelman of Laguna Hills
- King's Academy senior Carlie Mix of Cupertino
- Westlake High School senior Sidney Primas of Thousand Oaks
- Orange County High School of the Arts senior Kyle Shafiee of Lake Forest
- Moorpark High School senior Justin Tung of Moorpark
- Central Catholic High School senior Randy Van Dieman of Modesto
- Fallbrook High School senior Todd Vanduzer of Vista
- Notre Dame High School senior Alexander Workman of Sherman Oaks
- Westlake High School senior Sasha Yan of Thousand Oaks
- Carlmont High School senior Joy Zhang or Belmont
NFIB/VISA USA Young Entrepreneur Awards:
- Academy of Our Lady of Peace senior Alexandra Freeman of La Jolla
- Rio Americano High School senior Michael Greenspan of Sacramento
- Viewpoint High School senior Amanda Martin of Calabasas
- Home School senior Keith Gilbert of Orange
NFIB/California Leadership Council Young Entrepreneur Awards:
- Coronado High School senior Henry Stanley of Coronado
- Kadena High School senior Lauren Sutton of Kadena Air Base, Japan
NFIB/The Buddy Group Young Entrepreneur Award:
- El Dorado High School senior Brent Chow of Placentia
NFIB/Yak Gertmenian Young Entrepreneur Award:
- Sterling High School senior Anthony Saweres of Rancho Santa Margarita
