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ELEVEN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE FERGUSON-FLORISSANT SCHOOL DISTRICT COMPETE MAY 23 IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXPO

FLORISSANT, MO, May 19, 2014  --  Eleven students from the three high schools in the Ferguson-Florissant School District have been selected to compete in the second phase of the annual Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge on Friday, May 23.  The NFTE St. Louis Youth Entrepreneurship Pitch Expo will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, 5050 Oakland Avenue.

 

NFTE instills hope and improves students’ lives through entrepreneurship education, teaching skills relevant in the real world and motivating students to stay in school and learn.  NFTE’s innovative and relevant program courses inspire them to graduate, go to college and embark on successful careers.

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The students were selected following in-school business plan competitions April 30 and May 1, with a panel of judges providing feedback on each student’s presentation and selecting the top students to move on to the Pitch Expo competition.  During the NFTE St. Louis Youth Entrepreneurship Pitch Expo, the top two winners will be chosen to advance to the NFTE St. Louis Regional Entrepreneurship Challenge on July 27.  The top two finishers at the regional competition then will advance to the NFTE Nationals on October 9 in Mountain View, Calif.

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Names of the 11 students, and the names of their businesses, from the Ferguson-Florissant School District are:

  • Micheala IntVeld Sutherlin, ‘Gradient Graphics,’  McCluer High School
  • Sharne McGill, ‘PowerPoint Perfection,’ McCluer High School
  • Symone Jones, ‘SK Purses,’ McCluer High School
  • Courtney Lucas, ‘Inspiration,’ McCluer North High School
  • Tim Sutton, ‘Stickers to Go,’ McCluer North High School
  • Maurice Wallace, ‘Maurice’s Coffee & Poetry,’ McCluer North High School
  • Nick Taylor, ‘Culoure,’ McCluer North High School
  • Andre Crump, ‘In the Cut,’ McCluer South Berkeley High School
  • Donavan Ayers, ‘Elbow Grease,’ McCluer South Berkeley High School
  • Michael Miller, ‘Mike’s Lawn and Landscaping,’ McCluer South Berkeley High School
  • Warren Tiller, ‘Abstract Art,’ McCluer South Berkeley High School.

 

 

Teachers Tim Lakey, Jacob Lapinski and Raghib Muhammad oversee the NFTE competitions at McCluer High School, McCluer North High School and McCluer South Berkeley High School, respectively.

 

A panel of three judges will have four (4) minutes with each student to judge their business plan presentations at the Pitch Expo, after which each student will make a 60-second, ‘elevator’ pitch on stage in front of the audience.

 

First-place winner will receive $300, second-place winner will receive $200 and the remaining contestants will receive $50 apiece.  Winners at the National competition in October will receive $25,000, a visit to the White House and exposure to start-up investors and mentors.

 

Tanya Hamilton, founder of Independent Youth, will be special guest speaker at the NFTE St. Louis Entrepreneurship Pitch Expo.  Special awards will be presented to MasterCard, Build-A-Bear founder Maxine Clark and Hamilton.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

Since 1987, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has been inspiring young people to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses and succeed in life.  NFTE empowers students to own their futures in and out of the classroom and to find their own path to success.  To date, NFTE has served over 500,000 young people worldwide.  NFTE supports active programs in 21 U.S. locations and 13 countries around the world.  To learn more, visit www.nfte.com, like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/NFTE or follow us on Twitter at @NFTE.

 

About MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry.  We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.  MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities, such as shopping traveling, running a business and managing finances, easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone.  Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Conversations Blog and subscribe for the latest news.

 

About the Ferguson-Florissant School District

The Ferguson-Florissant School District, located in suburban St. Louis, serves more than 11,000 students from pre-school through 12th grade with an excellent comprehensive educational program.  Fully accredited by the State of Missouri, the Ferguson-Florissant School District operates 17 elementary schools, three middle schools, three A+ and NCA-CASI-accredited high schools and an alternative school.

 

 

 

In addition, the District includes a nationally recognized early education program, the award-winning Challenger Learning Center space education facility and the Little Creek Nature Area, a 97-acre nature preserve which offers experiential learning opportunities for students in science, biology, ecology and related areas of study.  For more information, visit www.fergflor.org.

 

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