The National Federation of Independent Business’ Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the recipients of the 13th annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards, a scholarship program designed to reward and encourage entrepreneurial talents among high school students.
“America’s young people have caught the entrepreneurial bug, and we could not be more confident in our next generation of business owners,” said Molly Young, director of the Young Entrepreneur Foundation. “We are impressed year after year with the quality of these hard-working, innovative high school students who are making their entrepreneurial dreams happen.”
The 2015 YEF Award winners from Tennessee are:
- Andrew Swafford, Bledsoe County High School in Pikeville, winner of a $1,000 NFIB/SunTrust Banks Young Entrepreneur Award. Andrew owns Andy’s Beekeeping and plans to attend Tennessee Tech.
- Grant Holden, Milan High School, winner of a $1,000 NFIB/Tennessee Leadership Council Young Entrepreneur Award. Grant owns Holden Brothers’ Lawn Care and plans to attend the University of Tennessee-Martin.
- Kirkland Schuler, St. Benedict at Auburndale High School in Cordova, winner of a $1,000 NFIB/SunTrust Banks Young Entrepreneur Award. Kirkland owns Kirkland Schuler’s Piano Studio for Kids and plans to attend the University of Tennessee.
- Logan Sizemore, Science Hill High School in Johnson City, winner of a $1,000 NFIB/McKee Foods Young Entrepreneur Award. Logan owns Green Blade Lawn Care and plans to attend the University of Virginia.
- Marah Whitaker, Walker Valley High School in Cleveland, winner of a $1,000 NFIB/Southern Champion Tray Young Entrepreneur Award. Marah owns Miss Marah’s Music, which offers piano lessons, and plans to attend Belmont University.
“We’re proud to support these young entrepreneurs,” said Jim Brown, state director of NFIB/Tennessee, the state’s leading small-business association. “It’s hard for anyone to start a business and keep it going, but it’s even harder when you have homework.”
In addition to recognizing these outstanding young entrepreneurs, the Young Entrepreneur Foundation will honor five students selected as Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Award finalists at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on July 23rd. During the event, the winners of the “2015 NFIB Young Entrepreneur of the Year” and “2015 NFIB Dan Danner Leadership Award” will be named and each awarded a $15,000 scholarship. The remaining three finalists will each receive a $5000.00 scholarship.
“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,” Young said.
To qualify for an NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award, students must be seniors in high school who own and/or operate their own small business. They are required to write an essay describing their entrepreneurial endeavors and future goals. NFIB members around the country interview the applicants for the Young Entrepreneur Awards.
To learn more, visit www.NFIB.com/YEF.
