Young Entrepreneur Awards

Help for High School Seniors Pursuing Higher Education and Entrepreneurial Dreams

Information is now available for the 2008–2009 Young Entrepreneur Awards, a program of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Young Entrepreneur Foundation. This annual scholarship program for high-school seniors is designed to set teen small-business owners on the path to successful entrepreneurship.

Award recipients attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with $1,000 in tuition assistance. One outstanding student receives a $10,000 award, and four regional winners receive $5,000 each. The program also grants one renewable award in each of five regions across the country.

Eligibility Requirements:

• High school seniors entering their college freshman year for the full 2009-2010 academic year
• Applicants must demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit, including but not limited to:
  • Starting a small business, e.g., pet sitting or dog walking, skate board/snow board shop, computer repair, e-Bay-based business, jewelry, landscaping/lawn-care, clothing design, agriculture-based business, DJ, car detailing, etc.
  • Participation in organizations such as DECA, FBLA, Junior Achievement, and The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, among others

The deadline to apply for the 2009 Young Entrepreneur Awards is December 15, 2008. From these applications, 1,500 semi-finalists will be selected. Semifinalists are required to submit an essay, high school transcript, and the nomination of an NFIB member by an identified deadline.

For more information, visit www.nfib.com/page/nfibYoungEntrepreneurAward.html.