SIDNEY -- Fourteen Sidney High School students competed in the school's first Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge with the last stage of the competition held today, Friday, December 8.

Sidney High School business instructor Ashley Fehringer commended the students for doing what many adults would struggle to complete.

"Honestly, I was very full of emotions today. There was nervousness for the kids and just overall excitement; now, it's just proud. It's been a big project, a big adventure for the kids and just seeing everything come together I'm just honestly proud of the effort," Sidney High School Business teacher Ashley Fehringer said after the awards ceremony today.

The students took part in business curriculum provided by Cheyenne County E3. The E3 group organized the program in association with the NetWork Kansas E-Community Partnership.

Cory Keen, a member of E3 and representing Nelnet, recalls his experience at the judging today.

"The air was electric. I got the privilege of sitting in the judging room watching the kids present and every single one of them did phenomenal in terms of their presentation to the judges," Keen said.

The students prepared start-up business ideas and compete for prizes including cash and tablet computers.

The competition was done in three phases:  1: Students wrote a business plan describing all the details of their business.  The business plan was valued at 33% of the overall score.

2: Students had three minutes to pitch their business summary to a panel of five judges. Judges were from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, University of Nebraska – Kearney, and successful business owners and leaders from across the state. The composite judges score was valued at the second third of the overall score. 

3: Students  participated in a trade show where they  promoted their business. Judging of the trade show accounted for the remainder of the score.


Other prizes included: $1,000, $750, and $500 scholarships to WNCC; $500 Community Choice Award; and a $500 scholarship to University of Nebraska at Kearney for the top performing student.