YES (Youth Entrepreneur Showcase) for Arkansas

Y.E.S. for Arkansas is a Youth Entrepreneur Showcase for Arkansas students in grades 5-8. Students from across the state work in small groups, led by their teacher advisors, to develop and market a business concept. The competition concludes with a Showcase event where selected finalist display their work. Additional information, including how to register for YES for Arkansas, can be found on this website.

Fayetteville schools feature yes participants

   "Several Holt Middle School 7th grade students had the chance to turn their ideas for starting a business into reality when they were selected to sell their products at an Expo in Little Rock by the Y.E.S. for Arkansas Empowering Entrepreneurs program.
   The selected groups' products were: Shnibiti Bags, collapsible shopping bags; and Smart Pillows, pillows with a pocket for carrying a book or phone along on a car trip or a park visit.
   Shnibiti Bag group member Kiara Nauden said, 'My favorite thing about the Expo was getting to see all the other products. All of them were really cool. Chief amongst my favorites was the edible play-dough.'
   The Y.E.S. program was developed for 5th - 8th graders by the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation as a way to get students excited about the business world."

For pictures of Fayetteville YES participants and pictures, keep reading... 

Youth Entrepreneur Showcase announces winners at Expo

    LITTLE ROCK, AR. (January 20, 2012) – Y.E.S. for Arkansas, a statewide business plan competition for fifth through eighth graders, announced the winning teams today following Expo Day at Park Plaza Mall. Twenty-six finalist teams were previously selected as those with the Best Business Plans and Most Innovative Ideas. The teams were selected in December from a field of 275 teams made up of nearly 1,000 students from across Arkansas.  Today they competed for Best Retail Booth and Marketing Awards in the 7th annual event.  All of the teams created a business plan for a new concept so they could compete for an opportunity to turn their ideas into reality.  

    Winners in the four categories are:

    Best Business Plan

    1st Place – K.C.Creations -- Pinkston Middle School. (Mountain Home).
Team Members: Kaci Yancey, Cara Conner. Teacher Advisor: Kristi Nelson.

K. C. Creations was started to give girls a cute, handy place to put small items. “Our rings are also made out of plastic bottles, so when they wear our ring, they’ll be recycling,” the owners noted.

    2nd Place -- Fun Fit.  Omaha Middle School (Omaha).
Team Members: Jaki Chalk, Madison Dillon, Daniel Forshee, Riley Keafer, Garrett Matlock, Kim Sloan.  Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins.

The Fun Fit Company has developed a 20-minute fun, interesting, and effective exercise program created for kids by kids.  According to the team’s business plan, Fun Fit features interval training which includes 10 seconds of hard-core intervals (FUN BURSTS), followed by 20 seconds of lighter activity.  

“The cutting edge research and science of interval training maximizes the exercise, giving you the benefit of a 40 minute workout in only 20 minutes,” Fun Fit members said.  “No materials or extra space is needed, so Fun Fit can be used almost anywhere by anyone!”

    3rd Place -- Smart Pillow Holt Middle School (Fayetteville).
Team Members: Sean Finn, Jacob Roman, Alexandria McMullen, Tyler Taylor. Teacher Advisor: Liz Bland

According to the team, Smart Pillows are a great and comfortable way to keep your books with you, even when you are asleep.“Our product is made of a pillow case with a pouch inside it so you can put your books in,” the team said.  “It comes in most sizes, though colors may vary.  The pillows are easy to carry around but are still very comfortable.”

    4th Place -- In Tone Records. Prairie Grove Middle School (Prairie Grove)
Team Members: Roy McKenzie, Zeke Laird, Avery Roton. Teacher Advisor: Dustin Seaton

In Tone Records was founded in November 2011 by three determined young men who were furious at how much of today’s music was produced and unartistic, so they decided to start a company to change that.  

Most Innovative Idea

    1st Place -- K.C.Creations -- Pinkston Middle School. (Mountain Home).
Team Members: Kaci Yancey, Cara Conner. Teacher Advisor: Kristi Nelson.

    2nd Place -- Smart Pillow Holt Middle School (Fayetteville).
Team Members: Sean Finn, Jacob Roman, Alexandria McMullen, Tyler Taylor. Teacher Advisor: Liz Bland

    3rd Place -- Fun Fit.  Omaha Middle School (Omaha).
Team Members: Jaki Chalk, Madison Dillon, Daniel Forshee, Riley Keafer, Garrett Matlock, Kim Sloan.  Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins.

   4th Place -- In Tone Records. Prairie Grove Middle School (Prairie Grove)
Team Members: Roy McKenzie, Zeke Laird, Avery Roton. Teacher Advisor: Dustin Seaton

Best Marketing Piece

    1st Place (Tie) --  BMK2. Washington Middle School (El Dorado).Team Members: Katelynn Mangrum, Brooklyn Price, Morgan Moore, Kaylee Hickerson, Teacher Advisor: Katie King; and Santa's Super Store, Omaha Middle School (Omaha), Team Members: Remington Edwards, Aidan Kimberlin, Lauren Moore, Alexas Sanders, Trey Stone, Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins.

BMK2’s product is an innovative Water Bottle Buddy that comes in a variety of colors.  The team proudly states that the Water Bottle Buddy, “will last throughout the year, and longer, plus it is very fashionable. It is made from duct tape, recycled kite string, and metal binder ring. It adjusts to the size of any water bottle, so everybody can use it.”

Additionally, BMK2 said that the Water Bottle Buddy is “very fashionable for boys and girls, and they are colored creatively.  A water bottle buddy is portable and you can clip it on and off things.”

Santa’s Super Store is a service company at their school that for a week in December will feature a variety of items for students to buy for family and friends without them knowing.  

“The items we are selling include: chocolate hand dipped morsels and a variety of flavored chocolate covered spoons; hot chocolates, coffees, and teas; scarves, hats, and shawls; an assortment of mugs and cups; a variety of Christmas games; and a selection of jewelry,” they said.  

    2nd Place -- Southern Lanyards. Hazen Elementary School.  (Hazen).
Team Members: Haden Weems, Grant Schelman, Trevor Duck, Teacher Advisor: Lisa Martin.

Southern Lanyards is a company that makes natural leather lanyards. “Our product is made from raw cow hide,” the team noted.  “Southern Lanyards are special because they are hand-made, and we have invested a lot of time in our braids to make them perfect for the hunting community.”

    3rd Place -- Colorful Crayons. Fountain Lake Middle School (Hot Springs).
Team Members: Ethan Westerman, Brock Rigsby, Jessa Goodeaux, Scout Martin, Stephen Turner. Teacher Advisor: Kathy Darin.

Colorful Crayons’ products are fun, big, cheaper, colorful crayons that anyone can use.“Our product is made with broken and unwanted crayons,” the team noted.  “Each crayon will be about the size of big candies, and some will even be multi-colored because we choose to hand prepare each batch to have a better product.  And, each crayon is bargain priced at only $.50 a piece.”

Best Retail Booth

     1st Place - Southern Lanyards. Hazen Elementary School.  (Hazen).
Team Members: Haden Weems, Grant Schelman, Trevor Duck  Teacher Advisor: Lisa Martin

     2nd Place -- Fun Fit.  Omaha Middle School (Omaha).
Team Members: Jaki Chalk, Madison Dillon, Daniel Forshee, Riley Keafer, Garrett Matlock, Kim Sloan.  Teacher Advisor: Pam Hopkins.

     3rd Place -- BMK2. Washington Middle School (El Dorado).
Team Members: Katelynn Mangrum, Brooklyn Price, Morgan Moore, Kaylee Hickerson, Teacher Advisor: Katie King.

    4th Place -- Manly Mouthpiece Flavoring Kits. Springhill Elementary (Bryant).
Team Members: Mitchell Jones. Teacher Advisor: Lisa Alexander.

A kit that allows mouthpieces to be infused with flavor in a fun way. “Each kit will contain two flavors, an instruction card and will be presented in a clear plastic bag,” Creator Mitchell Jones said.  “There will be a full color label on the outside of bag.  The bags will be hole-punched so stores can easily hang them on pegs next to the mouthpieces that they sell.”

This year’s Y.E.S. for Arkansas finalists also included:

    Bottle Babes, Inc. West Fork Middle School (West Fork) - Team Members: Haley Harrison, Victoria Lawson, Spencer Sagely, Leah Farmer, Nicole Crowder. Teacher Advisor: Teresa Walker.

    Cuddle Coverz. Beebe Middle School (Beebe) - Team Members: Erin McNully, Gabriela Mendez, Haleigh Figley. Teacher Advisor: Lydia Brumfield

    Eco-Wrap Scarves. Helen Tyson Middle School (Springdale) - Team Member: Sally Roach  Teacher Advisor: Jenny Jones.

    Flower Originals.  Cotter School (Cotter) - Team Members: Karissa Adams, Emily Krause, Madeline Hall, Emily Sublett, Amanda Vance.  Teacher Advisor: Monica Springfield.

    Food for Fun. Christ the King Catholic School (Little Rock) - Team Members: Will McConnell, Gus Shenker Teacher Advisor: Marie Ryan.

    iSafety.  Williams Traditional Magnet School. (Little Rock) - Team Members: Robyn Gordon, Ivory Daniels, Mackenzie Sims, Nathaniel Womack. Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson.

    K.C. Creations Laika. Williams Traditional Magnet School (Little Rock) - Team Members: Annabel Copeland, Sana Mhapsekar, Meghana Bollimpalli, Jan Paneda.  Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson.

    Locker Décor. Beebe Middle School (Beebe) - Team Members: Halle Thompson. Teacher Advisor: Lydia Brumfield.

    Neat Kids. Williams Traditional Magnet School. (Little Rock) - Team Members: Patrick Martin, Spencer Kimble, Jordan Lee, Jadon Whittington Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson.

    Play Doh Pals. Cotter School. (Cotter) - Team Members: Kaycie Beard, Marleigh Dodson, Dalton Orsborn.  Teacher Advisor: Monica Springfield.

    Schnibiti Bags. Holt Middle School. (Fayetteville) - Team Members:  Ashley Strode, Emmie Nichols, Kiara Naden, Stephanie Bailtie, Madelyn Scott.  Teacher Advisor: Liz Bland

    Smelly Sacks. Hazen Elementary School.  (Hazen) - Team Members: Jackson Schelman, Kayla Gladsish, Ross Harper, Drake Jones, Kade Perry.  Teacher Advisor: Lisa Martin

    Sock Clips. Williams Traditional Magnet School (Little Rock) - Team Members: Robert Brevard, Sam Sellers, Donte Slater, Thomas Franks. Teacher Advisor: Faye Hanson

    Sticky Situation. Siloam Springs Middle School.  (Siloam Springs) - Team Members: John Lavey, Trent Lyon, Hayden Smith.  Teacher Advisor: Janis Gregory

    Stink Lock.  eStem Middle School.  (Little Rock) - Team Members: Duncan Ragsdell, Joel Haynes  Teacher Advisor: Charlie Kinser

    Super Swivels. Bald Knob Middle School.  (Bald Knob) - Team Members: Phillip Freppon, Bryden Roberts, Avery Strickland, Kynlee Brimer, Taylor Roetzel, Lauryn Allgood  Teacher Advisor: Debbie Roberts

    Vine Craft. Christ the King School.  (Little Rock) - Team Members: Ethan Beall  Teacher Advisor:  Marie Ryan

For today’s second round of the competition, the top 26 teams were tasked with creating a comprehensive marketing piece and display booth to showcase their product or service.  Winning team members for 1st place teams, in each category, received a $100 cash prize.  The teachers of the 1st place teams took home an additional $500. Trophies were awarded for all 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category, with several teams winning in more than one category.   

Arkansas’s Youth Entrepreneur Showcase Business Plan Competition was initiated in 2005 for middle school students.  It is sponsored by the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation, an affiliate of the Arkansas Capital Corporation.  Annually, more than 50 Arkansas business leaders serve as volunteer judges to assist in the selection of the qualifying team finalists and winning teams.

Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation announces YES top 26 teams

BMK2 - Katie King, Advisor (Washington Middle School) 
Bottle Babes, Inc. - Teresa Walker, Advisor(West Fork Middle School)
Colorful Crayons - Kathy Darin, Advisor (Fountain Lake Middle School)
Cuddle Coverz - Lydia Brumfield, Advisor (Beebe Middle School)
Eco-Wrap Scarves - Jenny Jones, Advisor (Helen Tyson Middle School)
Flower Originals - Monica Springfield, Advisor (Cotter School)
Food for Fun - Marie Ryan, Advisor (Christ the King)
Fun Fit - Pam Hopkins, Advisor (Omaha Middle School)
In Tone Records - Dustin Seaton, Advisor (Prairie Grove Middle School)
iSafety - Faye Hanson, Advisor (Williams Traditional Magnet School)
K.C. Creations - Kristi Nelson, Advisor (Pinkston Middle School)
Laika - Faye Hanson, Advisor (Williams Traditional Magnet School)
Locker Decor - Lydia Brumfield, Advisor (Beebe Middle School)
Manly Mouthpiece Flavoring Kits - Lisa Alexander, Advisor (Springhill Elementary)
Neat Kids - Faye Hanson, Advisor (Williams Traditional Magnet School)
Play Doh Pals - Monica Springfield, Advisor (Cotter School)
Santa's Super Store - Pam Hopkins, Advisor (Omaha Middle School)
Schnibiti Bags - Liz Bland, Advisor (Holt Middle School)
Smart Pillow - Liz Bland, Advisor (Holt Middle School)
Smelly Sacks - Lisa Martin, Advisor (Hazen Elementary)
Sock Clips - Faye Hanson, Advisor (Williams Traditional Magnet School)
Southern Lanyards - Lisa Martin, Advisor (Hazen Elementary)
Sticky Situation - Janis Gregory, Advisor (Siloam Springs Middle)
Stink Lock - Charlie Kinser, Advisor (eStem Middle School)
Super Swivels - Debbie Roberts, Advisor (Bald Knob Middle School)
Vine Craft - Marie Ryan, Advisor (Christ the King)