During a ceremony on November 7, PCHS announced that not two, but three finalists in the PCHS "Aspiring Entrepreneurs" program have been awarded $10,000 each to propel their entrepreneurial aspirations forward. Congratulations to PCHS Seniors,
EmmaLyn Burnett, Lucy McClain, and Katherine Morgan, who have demonstrated outstanding qualities of innovation, philanthropy, and creativity in developing their respective businesses (Wonder Twins Welding, Yours Truly, and Jr. Cuties House of Beauty).
Their entrepreneurial dreams will now receive a substantial boost, thanks to the generous support of a local, private entrepreneur who has funded the PCHS Aspiring Entrepreneur Award. Congratulations to these three remarkable awardees, and a heartfelt thanks to all the participants and supporters who helped get this inaugural award off the ground.
These start-up businesses are in their first stages of development. You can follow "Wonder Twins Welding" and "Katherines Hair Designs" on Instagram now. Yours Truly's website and product sales will launch soon.
About the Aspiring Entrepreneur Award: Last spring, Platte County High School juniors learned of this unique opportunity, which encourages students who possess an entrepreneur mindset, and who are future-focused, philanthropic, and creative, to apply. Unlike many scholarships, this program does not consider grades, test scores, or financial need as criteria for selection. Instead, it values qualities like vision, creativity, and community impact. Fifteen impressive PCHS juniors completed applications in May, and ten candidates were chosen to advance to the next round. In June, the ten candidates shared their proposed entrepreneurial projects (to be executed during the summer before their senior year), and from this talented pool, five finalists were ultimately selected (EmmaLyn Burnett - welding, Lucy McClain - clothing line, Katherine Morgan - cosmetology and beauty products, Scott Sellers - car and band instrument detailing, and Jackson Thornton - drop shipping). These five finalists each received a $1,000 grant to develop their entrepreneurial concepts into viable start-up businesses, and then presented their progress to a panel of community judges in late October for a chance to be awarded a $10,000 award to continue their entrepreneurial dreams.