Media advisory: Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge to award $75,000 to student entrepreneurs from around the state
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Finalists in the 2018 Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge at Kansas State University. This year's event will take place Tuesday, April 30.
WHAT: The Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge is a statewide student entrepreneurship competition featuring high school and collegiate teams from across Kansas on Tuesday, April 30, at Kansas State University.
The contest is presented by the Kansas Masonic Foundation on behalf of all Kansas Masons, and hosted by Kansas State University with the support of Network Kansas. It offers $75,000 in prize money to student entrepreneurs who will pitch their businesses to a panel of judges consisting of entrepreneurs, bankers and investment experts in a "Shark Tank"-like environment.
This year's competition features 55 high school teams representing communities around the state, including Northern Heights High School, Allen; Labette County High School, Altamont;Rawlins County High School, Atwood; Baldwin High School; Basehor-Linwood High School; Republic County High School, Belleville; Cheylin High School, Bird City; Southeast High School, Cherokee; Clay Center Community High School; Colby High School; Chase County High School, Cottonwood Falls; Elkhart High School; Greenbush-Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, Girard; Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Hays; Hillsboro High School; Hoisington High School; Hoxie High School; Hodgeman County High School, Jetmore; Wyandotte High School, Kansas City; Leidigh Hall Academy; Wichita County High School, Leoti; Lincoln High School; Manhattan High School; Norton Community High School; Oakley High School; Blue Valley CAPS —Center for Advanced Professional Studies, Blue Valley North High School, Blue Valley Northwest High School, Blue Valley Southwest High School and Blue Valley West High School, all in Overland Park;Phillipsburg High School; Salina Central High School; Pike Valley High School, Scandia; Scott Community High School, Scott City; Sedan High School, Sedan; Sterling High School; Stockton High School; Seaman High School, Topeka; Greeley County High School, Tribune; Wamego High School; and Wichita Southeast High School.
The following universities will have teams participating in the event: Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburgh State University, University of Kansas, Washburn University and Wichita State University.
INTERVIEW SOURCES: Chad Jackson, director of the K-State Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship, and Robert Shively, executive director of the Kansas Masonic Foundation, will be available for interviews throughout the day. Interviews with student participants can also be coordinated upon request.
EVENT DETAILS: The competition will get underway at 9 a.m. in the Kansas State University College of Business Building. In addition to the competition, an Entrepreneurship Tradeshow will be available from noon to 1 p.m. in the Business Building atrium. At 4 p.m., a keynote speech from Bronte Bailey, a business and technology educator at Baldwin High School, will be given. It will be followed by an awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m.
MEDIA RSVP: Media are asked to RSVP to brentf@k-state.edu or call 785-532-2753 by noon Monday, April 29.
NEWS MEDIA PARKING: Parking vouchers will be available on the day of the event for the K-State parking garage, south of the K-State Student Union. Please allow ample time for parking.
