Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photos

On March 6, the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the fourth annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in partnership with Fort Scott High School. Eighteen students prepared startup business ideas and competed for cash prizes as their projects were judged. As part of the event, students had trade show exhibits displaying their business concepts in the FSHS auxiliary gym.

Fort Scott High School sophomore Adam Wright, left, talks with visitors about his idea for a food truck business during a trade show exhibit for the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge March 6 in the auxiliary gym at the high school. (Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo )
Fort Scott High School sophomore Cooper George, left, talks with local businessman Bill Michaud about George’s idea for an online clothing business during a trade show exhibit for the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge March 6 in the auxiliary gym at the high school. (Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo )
Fort Scott High School student winners in the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, as well as judges and others involved with the program, pose for a photo March 6 in the FSHS gym. Pictured from left are, Erik Pedersen, president and COO of NetWork Kansas, judge; Morgan Sage, business and entrepreneurship instructor at FSHS; Bill Michaud, managing partner of Sleep Inn and owner of Empress Event Center, judge; Josh Jones, general sales manager for Bourbon County Cars, judge; Sim Caldwell, who won the $250 honorable mention prize for her business plan, Simran’s Event and Party Planning; Cooper George, who won the $500 third place prize and the $250 prize for Community Choice Trade Show Exhibit for his business plan, Chaplete; Alyssa Hunt, who tied for the $1,000 first place prize with her business plan, Beauty Babe Boutique; Kate Holder, who tied for the $1,000 first place prize for her business plan, The Tan Bar; Bailey Lyons, owner of Lyons Realty Group and chairman of the chamber board for 2023, judge; Lindsay Madison, president and CEO of the chamber; and Dacia Clark, assistant director of the Kansas Small Business Development Center. Not pictured were John Hill, president and CEO of City State Bank, judge; Melissa Wise, owner of Wise Tax & Accounting, who verified scoring and assisted with the event; and Janet Miller, Southeast Kansas Manager of NetWork Kansas, who gave remarks during the awards presentation. (Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo )
Members of the public browse tables displaying business ideas of Fort Scott High School students during a trade show exhibit March 6 in the FSHS auxiliary gym. The event was the culmination of the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. (Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo )