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The Oregon Coast Community College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its inaugural Youth Entrepreneur Program (YEP), which culminated in a live pitch competition on Wednesday, May 15th.
The event, held in the new auditorium of Oregon State University’s Gladys Valley Building in Newport, saw five high school finalists pitch their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges and an audience of more than 100 community members.
Winner: Judah Tisman of Waldport High School won first place with an impressive taxidermy business presentation, receiving a $3,000 prize.
Second Place: Grayson Cook of South Beach Christian School won second place and a $1,500 prize for his mobile dog grooming business plan, plus a $500 prize as the audience voted winner.
Third Place: Merrin Wallace, Toledo High School, won third place and a $1,000 prize for her business, Bits & Bobs, which specializes in making and selling fantasy-themed products.
Fourth place: Collin Kimberly, Newport High School, won $500 for his plan to use a resin 3D printer to create custom items for tourists and locals.
Fifth place: Kaylani Kittel of South Beach Christian School won $500 for her subscription-based business that sells kit and supplies to runners and fitness enthusiasts.
Newport High School student Connor Brown wasn’t a presenter onstage, but he impressed visitors at the booth for Timber Edge, a finish carpentry company. Brown plans to attend the school’s Pre-Apprenticeship Program in Construction (PACT), which begins Sept. 6, and also earn his contractor’s license through the Construction Contractors Board testing course offered by the SBDC. (For more information on PACT, visit oregoncoast.edu/pact.)
A program built on innovation and passion
The Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, which began in January this year, offered students a unique opportunity to explore the world of entrepreneurship. Participants learned about idea generation, business planning, marketing strategies and more, culminating in developing and presenting their own business plans.
Kerriann Parker, SBDC’s lead business advisor and founder of the Youth Entrepreneurship Program, said she has been deeply moved by what the students have grown and accomplished through the program.
“We are so proud of all of our students,” she said, “and look forward to resuming the program next year and the year after. Thanks to the support of so many community partners and friends, we’re pleased to have established a program that will support and celebrate Lincoln County’s entrepreneurial youth for years to come.”
Parker added that the program wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Lincoln County School District, the Lincoln County Economic Development Alliance, Northwest Oregon Works and Oregon Coast Community College.
Join us for our next Youth Entrepreneurship Class
Inspired by success stories of young entrepreneurs such as Ben Pasternak, who developed the popular mobile game “Impossible Rush” at age 15, and Mark Zuckerberg, who co-founded Facebook at age 19, the SBDC encourages high school students with a passion for innovation to participate in its next Youth Entrepreneurship Program, which is currently being developed and will be announced later this summer. For more information, visit the SBDC’s webpage at oregoncoast.edu/sbdc and on Instagram at @orcoastsbdc.
