GRANTS IN ACTION

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION & TRAINING GRANT SUCCESS STORY: SUMTER COUNTY STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY BAIT LOCAL BUSINESS SHARKS

By DCAE Staff

Earlier this year the Sumter County School District invested their Perkins V Entrepreneurship Education & Training Grant (EET) award into a “Shark Tank” inspired event for high school and middle school students. With nearly 60 applicants, the top finalists demonstrated their entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities by delivering business pitches to a panel of judges. The student concepts were judged on creativity, innovation, market potential, competitive landscape, product clarity and operational sustainability.

After suspenseful negotiations and rigorous inquisitions, Olivia Williams of The Villages Charter School was named the overall winner, earning direct investments to support her business concept You Spend Me Right Around. Each school earned a 1st place and a 2nd place award.

The first place finalists were: South Sumter High School - Cori Riddell, Solar Lightning; The Villages Charter High School - Olivia Williams, You Spend Me Right Round; Wildwood Middle High School - Jaylyn Charpentier, Charpe Style Jewelry. Each of these finalists received a $1,000.00 cash prize from the award sponsors to further their entrepreneurship idea.

Second Place Finalists were: South Sumter High - Abigail Derby-Wine, Mix and Mask; The Villages Charter High - Elisabeth Ngo, La Beautique; Wildwood Middle High - Calvin Hoopes, Speed Detailing. All second place finalists received $500.00 from the award sponsors to further their entrepreneurship idea.

The third through fifth place finalists of the online competition from each school displayed posters outlining their business ideas and received $100 to further their Entrepreneurship plans for next year’s competition.

The Display Finalists were: from South Sumter High School - Destiny and David

Barnes (team), Auston Chisenhall and Raelyn Simmons; from The Villages Charter High Schooll - Cylie Reeder, Rebecca Spangler and Ashley Delezenne (team) and Magdalen Stansberry; from Wildwood Middle High School - Caleb Pickens and Austin Peavy (team), Nicole Vega Soto and Randy “RJ” Mears.

Sumter County School District demonstrates the endless opportunities made available through the Florida Department of Education’s EET Grant program. Florida’s Perkins V State Plan commits to creating a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem through career and technical education (CTE). Business equity is the second-largest source of wealth behind home equity and for special populations, self-employment and the ability to effectively create value contribute to Florida’s greater economic security. In short, becoming an entrepreneur is a viable path to improving Florida’s economic and social mobility rates. CTE does not just prepare students to take jobs, but creates the jobs of the future.

Entrepreneurship education and training (EET) refer to both academic education and formal training interventions or activities that share the broad objective of providing individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to start, operate or scale an enterprise. Through EET-funded programs, we have seen Florida’s students gain the socio-emotional skills and capacity for successful business management and venturing. Through EET, our students acquire skills such as self-confidence, leadership, resilience and the self-efficacy needed to Whether they become the next household name CEO or local small business leader, students participating in EET-funded programs are equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in Florida’s globally competitive economy.