Chamber’s YEA! Winner Places Third in National Competition
On Friday, June 16th, teens across the country competed to see who was be named America’s Next Top Young Entrepreneur at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) 15th Annual Saunders Scholars National Competition. The Shark Tank style pitch competition awarded over $80,000 in cash prizes and college scholarships to the Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology to the students with the best businesses.
This year semifinalists representing 19 middle and high schools from 15 states across the country competed virtually for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and a People’s Choice Award. The Competition was broadcasted from Rochester, NY ABC-TV WHAM Channel 13 and was streamed live over the web on YEA!’s Website and YouTube.
The local finalist, Noah Rozin, wis a freshman at Staten Island Technical High School. Rozin’s business, Ace of Ages - a historical board game - placed third place in the national competition.
The national winners were:
3rd Place: Ace of Ages – Noah Rozin with YEA! Staten Island
2nd Place: STEM IT - Siddarth Nandyala with YEA! Frisco
People’s Choice Award: STEM IT - Siddarth Nandyala with YEA! Frisco
1st Place: Maji – Lila Mokhtarti with YEA! Manhattan Beach
This year’s Saunders Scholars National Competition was sponsored in part by the E. Philp Saunders Foundation, the Saunders College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship.
“We could not be prouder of the work these young people are doing and of our partners who are leading the charge across the Country delivering YEA!’s entrepreneurship education,” said YEA! founder and CEO, Gayle Jagel. Our local Chambers of Commerce, incubators, accelerators, universities, colleges, and K-12 partners who come together through YEA! are igniting the sparks of innovation in the entire community. Just imagine what our world would look like if every student got the chance to bring their ideas to life.”
More about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a 501(c) 3 offering groundbreaking series of classes and workshops that teach middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses. Throughout the program, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors for startup funds, and launch and run their own, fully formed companies and social movements. The project-based program empowers students to take charge of their futures.
Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation, YEA! today serves thousands of students nationwide. In 2008, the Saunders Foundation became a national sponsor and partner of the Academy to help celebrate the spirit of enterprise among today's youth and tomorrow's future leaders.
YEA! bridges the business and educational communities to fulfill its mission of teaching more students how to make a job, not just take a job. YEA! is made possible by The Kauffman Foundation, and the Saunders Foundation. For more information, visit yeausa.org.
Saunders Foundation
E. Phillip Saunders, founder of numerous notable companies and chairman of several Boards of Directors, is known for his philanthropy and promotion of the Upstate New York economy. Mr. Saunders is a firm believer in the notion that an educated workforce is the key to economic growth. Mr. Saunders’ active role in the success of Upstate New York’s economy has not gone unnoticed as he is a past inductee of the Rochester Business Hall of Fame and a recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science from Paul Smith’s College. In addition to several other non-profits and community organizations, Mr. Saunders serves as a crucial Benefactor of RIT’s business school, thus earning the name Saunders College of Business at RIT.
Saunders College of Business at RIT
A world-renowned business school, the Saunders College of Business at RIT is driven in elevating students to make immediate and enduring contributions to organizations and the world through career-oriented experiences, education and research, while integrating business, technology and design thinking. Having graduated over 19,000 successful alumni, the Saunders College of Business at RIT provides students with connections, faculty, staff and corporate partners guaranteed to foster successful careers and futures.