10^thyear of Youth Entrepreneur Showcase for Arkansas Competition for Fifth- Through Eighth-Grade Students

Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, today announced the winners of the Youth Entrepreneur Showcase (Y.E.S) for Arkansas business plan competition for grades five through eight. Today’s winners, announced at Park Plaza Mall in Little Rock, Ark., 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

1st Place:  Magnetic Imagination, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home

• Advisor: Kristi Nelson
• Student: Ethan Johnson

2nd Place: Pucker Pops, Omaha Public Schools, Omaha

• Advisor: Scott Jones
• Students: Christopher Cheek, Jordan Gabriel, Connor White

3rd Place: All Around The World, Washington Middle School, El Dorado

• Advisor: Katie King
• Students: Dylan Avant, Rakivia Dunn, Tyler Johnson, Kaleigh Nale, Hannia Valero

4th Place: Magnetic Masterpieces, Cotter Public Schools, Cotter

• Advisor: Monica Springfield
• Students: Christianne Crunkleton and Kaylee Middleton

Best Marketing

1st Place: Distressed Designs, Hazen Elementary School, Hazen

• Advisor: Lisa Martin
• Students: Gracie Brown and Gracen Scroggins

2nd Place: ParaPeople Products, Manila Middle School, Manila

• Advisor: Heath Hawkins
• Students: Dillon Campbell, Dylan Clark, Alex Walsh, Grant Wilkins

3rd Place: Bracelet, Inc., Manila Middle School, Manila

• Advisor: Heath Hawkins
• Students: Jasmine Lozano, Alisa Luna, Julia McMinn, Beatriz Roldan

4th Place: Steel Style, Hazen Elementary School, Hazen

• Advisor: Lisa Martin
• Students: Jalen Burton, Alesha Larkin, Blayne Toll

Best Retail Booth Display

1st Place: Distressed Designs, Hazen Elementary School, Hazen

• Advisor: Lisa Martin
• Students: Gracie Brown and Gracen Scroggins

2nd Place: ParaPeople Products, Manila Middle School, Manila

• Advisor: Heath Hawkins
• Students: Dillon Campbell, Dylan Clark, Alex Walsh, Grant Wilkins

3rd Place: Stick-o-Butter, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home

• Advisor: Kristi Nelson
• Students: Emily DeAtley and Bria DiGiandomenico

4th Place: Trash 2 Treasure Returns, Cutter Morning Star Schools, Hot Springs

• Advisor: Deborah Giusti
• Students: Brock Duncan, Colby Heaton, Chris Kennedy, Clay Pratt

Most Innovative

1st Place: Magnetic Imagination, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home

• Advisor: Kristi Nelson
• Student: Ethan Johnson

2nd Place: Trash 2 Treasure Returns, Cutter Morning Star Schools, Hot Springs

• Advisor: Deborah Giusti
• Students: Brock Duncan, Colby Heaton, Chris Kennedy, Clay Pratt

3rd Place: Sleevies, Washington Middle School, El Dorado

• Advisor: Katie King
• Students: Jesse Moree, Sawyer Morgan, Cuashaundra Owens, Coleigh White

4th Place: Stick-o-Butter, Pinkston Middle School, Mountain Home

• Advisor: Kristi Nelson
• Students: Emily DeAtley and Bria DiGiandomenico

Best Sales Pitch

Distressed Designs, Hazen Elementary School, Hazen

• Advisor: Lisa Martin
• Students: Gracie Brown and Gracen Scroggins

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 Arkansas business leaders who serve as volunteer judges. The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group of companies empower entrepreneurs by providing capital in conjunction with community banks to businesses through its capital availability products and advocating for entrepreneurs through capital, educational, and technological improvements. The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group serves as the platform from which new opportunities are launched. In addition to the flagship company, Arkansas Capital Corporation, there are seven affiliate and partner companies, including, Six Bridges Capital Corporation, Arkansas Capital Relending Corporation, Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, Heartland Renaissance Fund, Connect Arkansas, Pine State Regional Center, and SouthWind Analytics. To learn more, visit www.arcapital.com. AEAF was established in 1999, and is a private, non-profit corporation dedicated to education-based initiatives that promote and foster the development of innovation and entrepreneurship within Arkansas. With broad support from the state’s business community, AEAF’s purpose is to nurture people and ideas to generate future Arkansas entrepreneurs.