Students are encouraged to strive towards one of the three E’s; Enlistment for the military, Employment for those who want to build themselves up out of high school, and Enrollment for those people seeking higher education. However, there is little known about the fourth E, Entrepreneurship. This is for people who want to think bigger and go their own way. The only entrepreneurship opportunities given at the school at this time are the entrepreneurial awards, which are given to seniors who compete to show that their idea deserves a real chance.
Post-secondary Advisor Mikyla Murphy, believes that entrepreneurship should be more widely considered.
“I think we don’t talk about it enough generally, that entrepreneurship is one of the things you can do right after high school and there’s not a lot of support,” Murphy said. “Every business can look so different.”
The problem with entrepreneurship is that there is no good way to prepare so many students in a field that allows ultimate creativity. Each person will have a different way that fits them best.
Another problem with entrepreneurship is funding.
“It’s not like a college where the process is always the same no matter what, you apply and then you can get financial aid. Entrepreneurship just doesn’t have that,” said Murphy.
Dissimilar to colleges, you have to get the funds for your business by yourself. This is why the entrepreneurship awards are such a good opportunity. They allow an actual way for anyone to venture into owning and operating a business out of high school by providing funds to help their businesses take off.
The Executive Director of Business services and Director of Strategic Partnerships Brian Noller
helps with funding and promoting for the Aspiring Entrepreneur awards.
Noller has helped with the Entrepreneurship awards since its implementation and has seen many different ideas through inception to execution.
“Of the 15that applied [last year], three grand finalists were chosen, which were Lucy McLean, EmmaLynn Burnett and Katherine Morgan,” Noller said. “EmmaLynn was with Wonder Twins Welding. Lucy McLean was with Yours Truly, a women’s clothing group. Catherine Morgan was with Junior Cutie School of Beauty.”
Each of the grand finalists businesses went their own unique way, which allowed them to truly shine. Every student who enters the awards has an opportunity to create a business out of any idea they can think of.
This year, five finalists have been chosen: seniors Charlie Forrester, Spencer Johnson, Dougie Kloeppel, Brett Mueller, and Darrell Smith. They will compete to be one of two grand finalists and win the Entrepreneurship award and the $10,000 that comes along with it.
Charlie Forrester runs Venture Fragrances, an alternative to the heavily expensive designer colognes and perfumes. Spencer Johnson runs Happy Disciples, a non-profit organization founded to provide a positive impact on the community. Dougie Kloeppel operates the D&K Pet Care, for those who need pet sitters. Brett Mueller operates BM3 Edits, which offers 3 services, Photography, Digital Design/Editing, and Quality prints. And lastly, Darrel Smith, runs GTI Training, a service aimed to help students grow athletically.
In order to supply the awards with funds and allow entrepreneurs to jumpstart their businesses, Noller found a donor to support these awards.
“The entrepreneur is our silent partner in this, he doesn’t want any publicity,” Noller said. “His mission is to create an entrepreneurial mindset and create opportunities for kids.”
Even though their silent partner remains anonymous, his actions speak decibels louder than anything he could say. His funding of the awards for their benefit shows that Platte County should not look over this shining opportunity.
The final presentations will be on Oct. 29 and the two lucky recipients of $10,000 will be announced Nov. 1.
