Youth Business Plan Competition Winners Announced

The 10th Annual Youth Entrepreneur Showcase (Y.E.S) ended Friday with a new slate of middle school winners.

The Y.E.S. competition, sponsored by the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, seeks to encourage entrepreneurship among fifth through eighth graders across Arkansas.

This year’s winners, announced at Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock, were selected from 25 finalist teams that were announced in December. The competition included 242 teams from 35 schools across Arkansas.

Y.E.S. for Arkansas competitors work in small groups, led by their teacher advisors, to develop and market a business concept. The winners in the four competition categories are as follows:

BEST BUSINESS PLAN

First ― Magnetic Imagination, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home
Advisor: Kristi Nelson
Student: Ethan Johnson

Second ― Pucker Pops, Omaha Public Schools, Omaha
Advisor: Scott Jones
Students: Christopher Cheek, Jordan Gabriel, Connor White

Third ― All Around The World, Washington Middle School, El Dorado
Advisor: Katie King
Students: Dylan Avant, Rakivia Dunn, Tyler Johnson, Kaleigh Nale, Hannia Valero

Fourth ― Magnetic Masterpieces, Cotter Public Schools, Cotter
Advisor: Monica Springfield
Students: Christianne Crunkleton and Kaylee Middleton

BEST MARKETING

First – Distressed Designs, Hazen Elementary School, Hazen
Advisor: Lisa Martin
Students: Gracie Brown and Gracen Scroggins

Second – ParaPeople Products, Manila Middle School, Manila
Advisor: Heath Hawkins
Students: Dillon Campbell, Dylan Clark, Alex Walsh, Grant Wilkins

Third – Bracelet, Inc., Manila Middle School, Manila
Advisor: Heath Hawkins
Students: Jasmine Lozano, Alisa Luna, Julia McMinn, Beatriz Roldan

Fourth – Steel Style, Hazen Elementary School, Hazen
Advisor: Lisa Martin
Students: Jalen Burton, Alesha Larkin, Blayne Toll

BEST RETAIL BOOTH DISPLAY

First – Distressed Designs, Hazen Elementary School, Hazen
Advisor: Lisa Martin
Students: Gracie Brown and Gracen Scroggins

Second – ParaPeople Products, Manila Middle School, Manila
Advisor: Heath Hawkins
Students: Dillon Campbell, Dylan Clark, Alex Walsh, Grant Wilkins

Third – Stick-o-Butter, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home
Advisor: Kristi Nelson
Students: Emily DeAtley and Bria DiGiandomenico

Fourth – Trash 2 Treasure Returns, Cutter Morning Star Schools, Hot Springs
Advisor: Deborah Giusti
Students: Brock Duncan, Colby Heaton, Chris Kennedy, Clay Pratt

MOST INNOVATIVE

First – Magnetic Imagination, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home
Advisor: Kristi Nelson
Student: Ethan Johnson

Second – Trash 2 Treasure Returns, Cutter Morning Star Schools, Hot Springs
Advisor: Deborah Giusti
Students: Brock Duncan, Colby Heaton, Chris Kennedy, Clay Pratt

Third – Sleevies, Washington Middle School, El Dorado
Advisor: Katie King
Students: Jesse Moree, Sawyer Morgan, Cuashaundra Owens, Coleigh White

Fourth – Stick-o-Butter, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home
Advisor: Kristi Nelson
Students: Emily DeAtley and Bria DiGiandomenico

Winning team members for first place in each category received a $100 cash prize and a medal.

The teacher advisor of the first place teams took home an additional $500 and a trophy. Second, third and fourth place winners and teachers in each category also received prizes.

Team finalists and winners of the Y.E.S. business plan competition are selected by business leaders who serve as volunteer judges.