EAST GREENWICH, R.I. – This weekend, nine local high school students won a total of $12,000 at the second annual Lt. Governor's Entrepreneurship Challenge Final Competition. The Challenge is a business pitch competition that allows Rhode Islanders in grades 9-12 to compete for thousands of dollars in post-secondary scholarships.
Lt. Governor Dan McKee hosted the competition at the New England Institute of Technology where he was joined by Ron McLean, President/CEO of the Cooperative Credit Union Association, representing the event's lead sponsor: the Credit Unions of Rhode Island.
Providence Detailing from the The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center won the top prize with their pitch for a mobile auto cleaning and detailing business. Providence Detailing provides clients with the option to make an appointment to have their vehicle detailed at work, home or any location that is convenient for the vehicle owner.
Over 30 teams from high schools across the state participated in round one of the Challenge which required students to craft detailed written business plans that address marketing, growth strategies, finances and more. On Saturday, the top five teams presented their business pitches to a panel of judges and received scholarships based on their pitch scores.
The full list of winners of this year's Challenge are:
- 1st place: $5,000 scholarship - Providence Detailing by Alejandro Martinez (Providence resident) and Laila Martin (Woonsocket resident), The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center
- 2nd place: $2,500 scholarship - Twin Skin by Kate Lapierre and Kristianna Lapierre, North Smithfield High School
- 3rd place: $2,000 scholarship - Climate Cuff by Jack Holmgren, Rob Ayers and Cole Batista, East Greenwich High School
- 4th place: $1,500 scholarship - Digi-Sticker by Alfred Timperley, East Greenwich High School
- 5th place: $1,000 scholarship - BrickLay by Thomas Jefferson (Cranston resident), La Salle Academy
The panel of judges included Carlos Ventura, CEO of Feast and Fettle; Mark Deion, President of Deion Associates and Strategies and Christine DiBiase, Corporate and Real Estate Attorney at Orson and Brusini.
"Congratulations to our second group of Lt. Governor's Entrepreneurship Challenge scholarship recipients and all participants who shared their bold ideas with us," said Lt. Governor McKee. "Thanks to the Credit Unions of Rhode Island, we have provided nineteen high school entrepreneurs with $20,000 in scholarships over the last two years. I am grateful for their continued sponsorship and the support of all the organizations and individuals who make the Challenge possible."
"The Credit Unions of Rhode Island congratulate the winners of this year's Entrepreneurship Challenge, knowing that by sowing the seeds of innovation and creativity among Rhode Island's future business leaders through our support of the competition, credit unions can continue to fulfill their role in helping communities across the state thrive and prosper," said Ron McLean.
The Credit Unions of Rhode Island are the lead sponsor of the Lt. Governor's Entrepreneurship Challenge. Other supporters include Millennial Rhode Island, Massey & Associates, Inc. and Dr. Day Care.
For more information on the Lt. Governor's Entrepreneurship Challenge, please visit www.rilgec.com.