Student entrepreneur Gabby Pauls introduced her business, Chargelet, at the Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge exhibit. Image courtesy of K-State News and Communication ServicesWritten by Bailey Henry
K-State News and Communication Services
The statewide Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge recently awarded prizes totaling more than $75,000 to 31 aspiring entrepreneurs. A total of 72 companies and 81 students participated in the event held at the K-State Student Union in April.
The Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge (KEC) is a program of the NetWork Kansas Entrepreneurship (E)-Community Partnership, which includes several partners at Kansas State University, including the Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship in the College of Business. Through the K-State 105 initiative, K-State Research and Extension and Kansas 4-H participated in the 2023-2024 competition year.
KEC represents the culmination of a series of community-based entrepreneurship competitions for students in grades 6 through 12 known as the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (YEC) series. Students are selected to participate in KEC by winning a sanctioned Her YEC Series contest or by being selected as one of her 16 wildcard participants. Participants are selected by the strength of their synopsis and pre-recorded elevator pitch.
The competition year marks the 11th annual YEC season and was the biggest year for the Entrepreneurship Series with 1,159 students from across the state participating.
“Network Kansas is excited about the growth of the YEC series over the past decade,” said Amara Kneep, Director of (E)-Community Partnerships. “Our goal is to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among Kansas youth and help them understand that their future is in their hands.”
The YEC series consists of community-level youth entrepreneurship competitions organized by volunteers. Local His YEC Series events require students to prepare an outline and formal presentation, and often include interactive exhibitions and elevator pitches. Students work in teams or individually to express business concepts and compete for awards and prizes. Student work will be judged by local entrepreneurs, public sector partners, teachers and other community members.
Companies that advanced to the KEC State Championship were judged on executive summaries and mock board presentations.
“K-State Research and Extension is excited to be a partner in this hands-on learning experience for Kansas youth,” said Sarah Maas, 4-H Youth Development Program Director . “The future of our state is bright if these young entrepreneurs lead the way.”
The following companies and students were selected as finalists.
• Helicopter shot. Created by girlfriend Callie Umphress and Sydney Bailey of Great Bend.
• Bakers Box, created by Autumn Wynn of Goodland.
• Created by Maci Morgan of Beach Bound Creations, Wichita.
• Coded by Cylie by Cylie LaTourell of Sterling.
• Created by Isaac Day of DayWeb Media, Fort Scott.
• Created by Jenna Wilson of Enlightened Wellness, Garden City.
• Created by Greener Grass, Felix Kirkland, Lawrence.
• Intricates, created by Brian Gerbert of Plainville.
• Created by Katie Aubert of Katie’s Car Freshies, Rossville.
• Leighton’s Show Cow Embryo, created by Leighton Hopkins, Tribune.
• Created by Blake Logan of Logan Lawn Care, Towanda.
• “Made in Minutes” by Hayley Mick of Osborne.
• Pittsburgh Potikas, created by Annamaria Curran of Pittsburgh.
• Tsoi Cattle – Larned, Lang, Kansas.
The following companies and students received exemplary recognition.
• Aaron’s Lawn Care, created by Aaron Collins of Leavenworth.
• Blackbird Blades, created by Jonas Letourneau of Beloit.
• Created by Nora Elenz of Bluehill Adventure Tours, Tipton.
• CB handmade jig created by Cody Burns, Girard.
• Chargelet, created by Gabby Poels of Phillipsburg.
• Crouse Electrical Co., founded by Peter Crouse of Atwood.
• Fabric Friendly, created by Armando Duran, Carson Ablard, and Salina.
• Eggs Xpress, created by Brady Childs of Ellsworth.
• Elkhorn Silver, created by Josie Kueser of Ellsworth.
• Created by Landon Hendricks of High Plains Aquaculture, Sheilin.
• Created by Lindsey Beltz of LB.Leather, Sterling.
• Created by Dylan Norris of Norris Tutoring, Salina.
• Sydney’s Savings Storefront LLC, founded by Sydney Heller of Sylvan Grove.
• Tre’s Squeeze LLC, founded by Tre Glasper of Manhattan.
Students also had the opportunity to participate in an exhibition showcasing their businesses. The public can also participate and vote for their favorite businesses.
The following companies and students received trade show People’s Choice Awards.
• 1st place: Made in Minutes, created by Hailie Mick of Osborne.
• 2nd place: Delectively Dried, created by Ames Schielke and Jack Denny, Colby.
• 3rd Place: Created by Cowgirl Creations, Riley Hunnicutt, and Hope.
• 3rd place: Katie’s Car Freshies, created by Katie Aubert of Rossville.
• 4th Place: Lizzie’s Lounge Doggie Daycare & Kennel, created by Londyn Detlefson, Salina.
The following people were certified as YEC Champions.
• Heather Stamper Voss, Rooks County.
• Liz Watson, Morton County.
• Linda Herring, Lincoln County.
• Brian Richter, Rice County.
• Stephanie Maike, Wabaunsee County.
• Beth Zimmerman, Anderson County.
• Shawnee County Candice Meapole.
Kansas communities that have hosted local YEC Series events include Allen County, Anderson County, Burton County, Bourbon County, Butler County, Chase County, Chautauqua County, Cherokee County, Cheyenne County, Clay County, Cloud County, and Cowley County. Counties: Crawford, Douglas, Elk, Ellis, Ellsworth, Finney, Ford, Franklin, Graham, Greeley, Harvey, Jewell, Kiowa, Lovett, Leavenworth, Lincoln , Linn County, McPherson County, Mitchell County, Montgomery County, Morris County, Morton County, Neosho County, Norton County, Osborne County, Pawnee County, Phillips County, Pottawatomie County, Rollins County, Reno County, Republic County, Rice County, Rooks County, Saline County, Scott County, Sedgwick County, Seward County, Shawnee County, Sherman County, Stafford County, Sumner County, Thomas County, Wabaunsee County, Wichita County, and Wyandotte County.
Additional communities were also invited to participate.
For more information, visit youthshipchallenge.com.
