Last month, West Ashley High School Entrepreneurship teacher Eva Rutiri took a group of students to compete in the Mark Motley Foundation Regional Business Plan Competition at the College of Charleston. The competition was put on by YESCarolina, the only organization in South Carolina that teaches students the primary aspects of entrepreneurship.
YESCarolina encourages young adults to create their own companies and get a jump start on their future. YESCarolina has trained and certified teachers throughout South Carolina on the subject of entrepreneurship.
The competition took place at the College of Charleston School of Business, where startup cash was awarded to 35 young entrepreneurs who demonstrated they had developed a solid plan for their business. The students presented their business plans to judges throughout the day, competing in several rounds before concluding with the final challenge where only six participants were left to compete.
Coming in third place overall was WAHS’s Maddy Bessinger. By winning third placed she received a cash prize of $250 for her business Eat, Sit, Play. Bessinger has been running her pet sitting business for several years and has many happy customers.
One of the runner-ups for the competition was Hunter Price of WAHS and his business, Bag-a-Field. Other West Ashley High students who participated in the competition were Ebony Washington and her Bow Gal, Hair Bows to Help Raise Awareness, and Caleb Alexander, The New Generation of Magic.
“As a teacher, it is a very proud moment to have students who apply learned entrepreneurship skills in the classroom and to see them successfully implement those business plan skills and win at a YEScarolina competition,” said Rutiri.
Six entrepreneurs from the area will now continue to the State Business Plan Competition on June 17 at the College of Charleston School of Business. Twelve additional students from around the city and state will also compete at the State level.
For more information on
YesCarolina visit
www.yescarolina.com.
(843) 766-WEST (9378)
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