By SARA GIBONEY
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – More than 100 high school students developed business proposals and learned new skills in entrepreneurship at the New Venture Adventure hosted Thursday at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
In its ninth year, New Venture Adventure helps high school and university students develop leadership and business skills. UNK students coach high school students to develop business proposals that are presented to area business leaders at the end of the daylong event.
Teams of students created a retail, service or manufacturing business and crafted a mission statement and business card for that new company. Teams also identified financing requirements of the new venture and met with area finance professionals to obtain the funding needed. Students then worked with realtors to negotiate a mock lease for their operations.
The student groups presented their overall business concepts to a panel of judges comprised of area business professionals and UNK staff. The event was hosted by the UNK Enactus Team.
Participating schools were: Litchfield, Ord, Hastings, Shelton, Overton, Sandhills, Pleasanton, Amherst, Central City, Kearney Catholic, Kearney High, Blue Hill and Sumner-Eddyville-Miller.
Team Ice Grey was recognized as the grand champion. Team members were: Heidi Saner of Sandhills, Tamaira Fischer of Pleasanton, Chaden Darby of Amherst, Sierra Harlow of Central City, Madi Casper of Kearney Catholic, Tianna Engen of Kearney High, Zerron Schroder of Sumner-Eddyville-Miller, Angel Halouska of Litchfield, Shelby Kittle of Ord, Brandon Cronk of Hastings and Justine Pickar of Litchfield.
The retail industry winner was also team Ice Grey.
Team Red was the manufacturing industry winner. Team members were: McCyla Mickelson of Amherst, Matt Reeves of Central City, Nathan Howe of Kearney Catholic, Sara Ripp of SEM, Emilee Sweley of Litchfield, Britan Blair of Ord, Omar Espinoza of Hastings, Breeanna Fluckey of Hastings, Morgan Area of Overton, Thomas Peterson of Sandhills, Isiah Samaniego of Hastings and Nicole Wardyn of Litchfield.
Team Light Pink was the service industry winner. Team members were Michelle Hall of Central City, Dennis Cabanting of Kearney Catholic, Sheri Crosier of Kearney High, Brett Streff of Blue Hill, Brandon Kearney of SEM, Riley Casper of Litchfield, Brooke Rowse of Ord, Danyell Boutin of Hastings, Jordyn O’Brien of Shelton, Danielle Jewett of Overton, Landon Ramold of Hastings and Garrett VanSkiver of Hastings.
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ABOUT ENACTUS
Founded in 1975 and active on more than 1,400 college and university campuses in 47 countries, Enactus is a non-profit organization that partners with business and higher education to provide college students opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills through learning, practicing and teaching the principles of free enterprise. Enactus was formerly known as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE).
Source: Shawn Kaskie, 308.865.8135, kaskiesc@unk.edu
Writer: Sara Giboney, 308.865.8529, giboneys2@unk.edu
Thank you for providing these area kids with the opportunity to participate in New Adventures Day at UNK. That experience for them is necessary to survive in today’s world. Thanks again. S.W. Engen