By HALEY PITTMAN

Danville High School

The Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge (LGEC) is a business competition for all Kentucky high school students, grades 9-12, from public, private or home-school programs. In hopes to introduce students to how competitive the business environment really is and to promote business ownership, Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton created the competition. “I was inspired to start the entrepreneurship challenge after meeting small business owners across Kentucky.  I marvel at the number of Kentuckians who decided to start their own companies in a variety of industries:  packaging, bedding, marketing, food service, machining, printing, retail, fashion & beauty, micro-brewing, and more,” Hampton stated on her website for the Challenge.

The competition consists of a business plan proposal and a presentation where the students will pitch their ideas. Students are required to work in teams of at least two people and must work with adult advisers who can help guide them as they develop their business idea. Judges will evaluate the teams on their written business plans, as well as how well they present their pitch.

Prizes include scholarships for colleges in Kentucky along with cash for the adult advisers and business assist services from entrepreneurs in Kentucky.

Seven students from DHS will be participating in the competition. These students include Jaden Mays, Jasmine Burdett, Jada Vandyke, Sabian Zaman, Harrison Stamper, Shelbi Pittman and Haley Pittman.

“I’d say it’s an interesting challenge, and I look forward to seeing what Sabian and I come up with. At the moment, I would say we’ve put in a good amount of effort. We have come up with several flow charts, documentation of various parts of the company, and we have the basic outline. We just need to iron out certain details. I think this challenge is great for people who want to mentally challenge themselves,” Stamper said.   

George Stafford, Danville High’s marketing teacher, and Ryan Adams, DHS Pathways Coach, will be the mentors and advisors of these teams.

“I am teaching students how to build a business plan and how to dream big when it comes to living out their passion which could one day be their career choice,” Stafford explained. He has encouraged all of his students to participate. “This type of event can change the way students view their place in the world—transforming them into tomorrow’s leaders by the actions they begin today.”

Registration to compete was due Wednesday, February 1. Students will have until Wednesday, March 1, to complete all application materials. Regional competitions, Zones 1-5, will be over four consecutive days, April 10- April 13. Winners will compete in an over-all state competition, which will be on April 29.

Depending on where participants live, each team will compete at various locations on different days. Kentucky will be divided into five zones. Participates who live in Zone 1 will compete at Murray State University on April 10. Zone 2 participants will compete at Western Kentucky University on April 12. Competitors in Zone 3 will compete in Georgetown, while competitors in Zone 4 will compete at Berea College, both on April 12. Finally, Zone 5’s competition will be held at the University of Pikeville on April 13. After each zone has competed, the winners will compete at the state competition, which will be at the Kincaid Auditorium at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business & Economics.

Stafford ended with, “I like the fact our Lt. Governor has challenged students to be creative and be the change which they want to see in our country and the world today.”