WICHITA, Kan. - For the 2009 graduating class of Youth Entrepreneurs Kansas (YEK),
the annual Dreams to Dividends Awards Receptions, held May 4, 5 and 6, brought
fulfillment of a year's worth of hard work and determination. The receptions, which
celebrated the accomplishments of YEK's graduating class, culminated with the
presentation of $92,400 in scholarships and venture capital grants to high school students
from Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, Kansas City, Kan. and South Central Kansas.
YEK is a not-for-profit organization that offers a high-school curriculum about
entrepreneurship and market-based management principles in classrooms across the state.
Kylie Stupka, executive director of YEK, says the organization couldn't be more proud
of the many entrepreneurial accomplishments of its students, or the amount of
scholarship and venture capital funds contributed by its generous donors.
"It's our privilege to present these well-deserved awards'" Stupka said. "And thanks to
the generosity of our donors during this tough economic time, we're able to continue
providing YEK students with the means to better their lives."
YEK presented 65 scholarships, ranging from $500-$8,000 dollars. These scholarships,
totaling $68,000, provide the opportunity for students to pursue further education. An
outside panel of judges scored the scholarship applications, and all current YEK students
and graduates were eligible for awards. The three students awarded the prestigious Ellis
award for $8,000 are:
" Yosari Macias, Wyandotte High School
" Chandra Sauls, Wyandotte High School
" Britani Winberry, Highland Park High School
Turning Dreams to Dividends
Date XX, 2009
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A total of $24,400 in venture capital grants was given to help YEK graduates start their
own businesses. Throughout the school year, students created a business plan with help
from their YEK teachers and local business mentors. These students competed in
business plan competitions, both at the classroom and regional level, with winners being
awarded $1,000 venture capital grants at the Dreams to Dividends receptions. Regional
winners have the opportunity to compete in the National Business Plan Competition.
Regional winners include:
" South Central Kansas Regional Winner: Kallie Attebery, Newton High School
" Wichita Regional Winner: Adrianna De La Rosa, Wichita Heights High School
" Kansas City, Kansas Regional Winner: Takirah Carter, J.C. Harmon High School
" Topeka/Lawrence Regional Winner: Cassondra Sapata-Smith, Topeka High School
For more information on the awards recipients visit www.yeks.org.
About Youth Entrepreneurs Kansas (YEK)
Founded in 1991 by the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation, YEK teaches free enterprise
fundamentals to high school students through hands-on experiences. The program gives students
the skills and tools to start their own business or enhance their business skills for future career
opportunities, as well as encourages them to continue into higher education. Funded completely
by private donations, YEK is a pubic non-for-profit 501(c)(3) foundation. For more information,
to donate or to volunteer with YEK, please visit www.yeks.org.
