Youth Entrepreneur Showcase Announces Winners at Expo

Y.E.S. for Arkansas, a statewide business plan competition for fifth to eight graders, announced the winning teams today following Expo Day at Park Plaza Mall. Twenty-six finalist teams were previously selected as those with the Best Business Plans and Most Innovative Ideas.  Today they competed for Best Retail Booth and Marketing Awards in the 7th annual event.  The teams were selected in December from a field of 275 teams made up of nearly 1,000 students from across Arkansas.  All of the teams created a business plan for a new concept so they could compete for an opportunity to turn their ideas into reality. Winners in the four categories are: Best Business Plan 1st Place – K.C.Creations — Pinkston Middle School. (Mountain Home). Team Members: Kaci Yancey, Cara Conner. Teacher Advisor: Kristi Nelson. K. C. Creations’ was started to give girls a cute, handy place to put small items. “Our rings are also made out of plastic bottles, so when they wear our ring, they’ll be recycling,” the owners noted. 2nd Place — Fun Fit.  Omaha Middle School (Omaha). Team Members: Jaki Chalk, Madison Dillon, Daniel Forshee, Riley Keafer, Garrett Matlock.  Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins. The Fun Fit Company has developed a 20-minute fun, interesting, and effective exercise program created for kids by kids.  Team members are Jaki Chalk, Madison Dillon, Daniel Forshee, Riley Keafer and Garrett Matlock.  According to the team’s business plan, Fun Fit features interval training which includes 10 seconds of hard-core intervals (FUN BURSTS), followed by 20 seconds of lighter activity. “The cutting edge research and science of interval training maximizes the exercise, giving you the benefit of a 40 minute workout in only 20 minutes,” Fun Fit members said. “No materials or extra space is needed, so Fun Fit can be used almost anywhere by anyone!” 3rd Place — Smart Pillow Holt Middle School (Fayetteville). Team Members: Sean Finn, Jacob Roman, Alexandria McMullen, Tyler Taylor. Teacher Advisor: Liz Bland According to the team, Smart Pillows are a great and comfortable way to keep your books with you, even when you are asleep.“Our product is made of a pillow case with a pouch inside it so you can put your books in,” the team said.  “It comes in most sizes, though colors may vary. The pillows are easy to carry around but are still very comfortable.” 4th Place — In Tone Records. Prairie Grove Middle School (Prairie Grove) Team Members: Roy McKenzie, Zeke Laird, Avery Roton. Teacher Advisor: Dustin Seaton In Tone Records was founded in November of 2011 by three determined young men who were furious at how much of today’s music was produced and unartistic, so they decided to start a company to change that.   Most Innovative Idea 1st Place — K.C.Creations — Pinkston Middle School. (Mountain Home). Team Members: Kaci Yancey, Cara Conner. Teacher Advisor: Kristi Nelson. 2nd Place — Smart Pillow Holt Middle School (Fayetteville). Team Members: Sean Finn, Jacob Roman, Alexandria McMullen, Tyler Taylor. Teacher Advisor: Liz Bland 3rd Place — Fun Fit.  Omaha Middle School (Omaha). Team Members: Jaki Chalk, Madison Dillon, Daniel Forshee, Riley Keafer, Garrett Matlock.  Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins. 4th Place — In Tone Records. Prairie Grove Middle School (Prairie Grove) Team Members: Roy McKenzie, Zeke Laird, Avery Roton. Teacher Advisor: Dustin Seaton   Best Marketing Piece 1st Place (Tie) —  BMK2. Washington Middle School (El Dorado).Team Members: Katelynn Mangrum, Brooklyn Price, Morgan Moore, Kaylee Hickerson, Teacher Advisor: Katie King; and Santa’s Super Store, Omaha Middle School (Omaha), Team Members: Remington Edwards, Aidan Kimberlin, Lauren Moore, Alexas Sanders, Trey Stone, Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins. BMK2’s product is an innovative Water Bottle Buddy that comes in a variety of colors.  The team proudly states that the Water Bottle Buddy, “will last throughout the year, and longer, plus it is very fashionable. It is made from duct tape, recycled kite string, and metal binder ring. It adjusts to the size of any water bottle, so everybody can use it.” Additionally, BMK2 said that the Water Bottle Buddy is “very fashionable for boys and girls, and they are colored creatively.  A water bottle buddy is portable and you can clip it on and off things.” Santa’s Super Store is a service company at their school that for a week in December will feature a variety of items for students to buy for family and friends without them knowing. “The items we are selling include: chocolate hand dipped morsels and a variety of flavored chocolate covered spoons; hot chocolates, coffees, and teas; scarves, hats, and shawls; an assortment of mugs and cups; a variety of Christmas games; and a selection of jewelry,” they said. 2nd Place — Southern Lanyards. Hazen Elementary School.  (Hazen). Team Members: Haden Weems, Grant Schelman, Trevor Duck, Teacher Advisor: Lisa Martin. Southern Lanyards is a company that makes natural leather lanyards. “Our product is made from raw cow hide,” the team noted.  “Southern Lanyards are special because they are hand-made, and we have invested a lot of time in our braids to make them perfect for the hunting community.” 3rd Place — Colorful Crayons. Fountain Lake Middle School (Hot Springs). Team Members: Ethan Westerman, Brock Rigsby, Jessa Goodeaux, Scout Martin, Stephen Turner. Teacher Advisor: Kathy Darin. Colorful Crayons’ products are fun, big, cheaper, colorful crayons that anyone can use.“Our product is made with broken and unwanted crayons,” the team noted.  “Each crayon will be about the size of big candies, and some will even be multi-colored because we choose to hand prepare each batch to have a better product.  And, each crayon is bargain priced at only $.50 a piece.”   Best Retail Booth 1st Place – Southern Lanyards. Hazen Elementary School.  (Hazen). Team Members: Haden Weems, Grant Schelman, Trevor Duck  Teacher Advisor: Lisa Martin 2nd Place — Fun Fit.  Omaha Middle School (Omaha). Team Members: Jaki Chalk, Madison Dillon, Daniel Forshee, Riley Keafer, Garrett Matlock.  Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins. 3rd Place — BMK2. Washington Middle School (El Dorado). Team Members: Katelynn Mangrum, Brooklyn Price, Morgan Moore, Kaylee Hickerson, Teacher Advisor: Katie King. 4th Place — Manly Mouthpiece Flavoring Kits. Springhill Elementary (Bryant). Team Members: Mitchell Jones. Teacher Advisor: Lisa Alexander. A kit that allows mouthpieces to be infused with flavor in a fun way. “Each kit will contain two flavors, an instruction card and will be presented in a clear plastic bag,” Creator Mitchell Jones said.  “There will be a full color label on the outside of bag.  The bags will be hole-punched so stores can easily hang them on pegs next to the mouthpieces that they sell.”   This year’s Y.E.S. for Arkansas finalists also included:

• Bottle Babes, Inc. West Fork Middle School (West Fork) – Team Members: Haley Harrison, Victoria Lawson, Spencer Sagely, Leah Farmer, Nicole Crowder. Teacher Advisor: Teresa Walker.
• Cuddle Coverz. Beebe Middle School (Beebe) – Team Members: Erin McNully, Gabriela Mendez, Haleigh Figley. Teacher Advisor: Lydia Brumfield
• Eco-Wrap Scarves. Helen Tyson Middle School (Springdale) – Team Member: Sally Roach  Teacher Advisor: Jenny Jones.
• Flower Originals.  Cotter School (Cotter) – Team Members: Karissa Adams, Emily Krause, Madeline Hall, Emily Sublett, Amanda Vance.  Teacher Advisor: Monica Springfield.
• Food for Fun. Christ the King Catholic School (Little Rock) – Team Members: Will McConnell, Gus Shenker Teacher Advisor: Marie Ryan.
• iSafety.  Williams Traditional Magnet School. (Little Rock) – Team Members: Robyn Gordon, Ivory Daniels, Mackenzie Sims, Nathaniel Womack. Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson.
• K.C. Creations Laika. Williams Traditional Magnet School (Little Rock) – Team Members: Annabel Copeland, Sana Mhapsekar, Meghana Bollimpalli, Jan Paneda.  Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson.
• Locker Décor. Beebe Middle School (Beebe) – Team Members: Halle Thompson. Teacher Advisor: Lydia Brumfield.
• Neat Kids. Williams Traditional Magnet School. (Little Rock) – Team Members: Patrick Martin, Spencer Kimble, Jordan Lee, Jadon Whittington Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson.
• Play Doh Pals. Cotter School. (Cotter) – Team Members: Kaycie Beard, Marleigh Dodson, Dalton Orsborn.  Teacher Advisor: Monica Springfield.
• Schnibiti Bags. Holt Middle School. (Fayetteville) – Team Members:  Ashley Strode, Emmie Nichols, Kiara Naden, Stephanie Bailtie, Madelyn Scott.  Teacher Advisor: Liz Bland
• Smelly Sacks. Hazen Elementary School.  (Hazen) – Team Members: Jackson Schelman, Kayla Gladsish, Ross Harper, Drake Jones, Kade Perry.  Teacher Advisor: Lisa Martin
• Sock Clips. Williams Traditional Magnet School (Little Rock) – Team Members: Robert Brevard, Sam Sellers, Donte Slater, Thomas Franks. Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson
• Sticky Situation. Siloam Springs Middle School.  (Siloam Springs) – Team Members: John Lavey, Trent Lyon, Hayden Smith.  Teacher Advisor: Janis Gregory
• Stink Lock.  eStem Middle School.  (Little Rock) – Team Members: Duncan Ragsdell, Joel Haynes  Teacher Advisor: Charlie Kinser
• Super Swivels. Bald Knob Middle School.  (Bald Knob) – Team Members: Phillip Freppon, Bryden Roberts, Avery Strickland, Kynlee Brimer, Taylor Roetzel, Lauryn Allgood  Teacher Advisor: Debbie Roberts
• Vine Craft. Christ the King School.  (Little Rock) – Team Members: Ethan Beall  Teacher Advisor:  Marie Ryan

For today’s second round of the competition, the top 26 teams were tasked with creating a comprehensive marketing piece and display booth to showcase their product or service. Winning team members for 1st place teams, in each category, received a $100 cash prize. The teachers of the 1st place teams took home an additional $500. Trophies were awarded for all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category, with several teams winning in more than one category. Arkansas’s Youth Entrepreneur Showcase Business Plan Competition was initiated in 2005 for middle school students.  It is sponsored by the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of the Arkansas Capital Corporation. Annually, over 50 Arkansas business leaders serve as volunteer judges to assist in the selection of the qualifying team finalists and winning teams.