(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The National Federation of Independent Business Young Entrepreneur Foundation today announced the Alaska recipient of the 10th annual NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards, a scholarship program designed to reward and encourage entrepreneurial talents among high school students.

The 2012 NFIB/Alaska Leadership Council Award winner of a $1,000 scholarship is Ketchikan High School senior Jeanette Sweetman.

“The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in America, and we at the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation could not be more confident in our next generation of business owners,” said Kurt Summers, chairman, NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation Board of Directors. “We are extremely impressed with the quality of applicants who have applied for this year’s awards; our five finalists reflect the best of what our young innovators have to offer. Each young man and woman has exhibited an incredible drive for success, and I congratulate each of them for their accomplishments.”

Added NFIB/Alaska State Director Denny DeWitt: “I could not be more impressed with the caliber of Alaska’s applicant for the YEF award. If she [Jeanette Sweetman] is any indication, the future of small business is in good hands."

The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Award recipients will attend the university, college, community college or vocational/technical institute of their choice with $1,000 to $10,000 in tuition assistance from the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation. The program was established to raise awareness among the nation's youth about the critical role that private enterprise and entrepreneurship play in the building of America. Since 2003, the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation has awarded 2,300 scholarships to graduating high school seniors totaling more than $2.5 million.

More than 500 students nationwide applied for a YEF scholarship this year. And today NFIB is proud to award 131 scholarships to young entrepreneurs across the country, thanks to the financial support from numerous small business leaders, corporate and foundation supporters, including workers’ compensation insurer EMPLOYERS.

In May, NFIB YEF will honor the four students selected as $5,000 scholarships winners and name the “2012 Young Entrepreneur of the Year” who will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship.

To qualify for a YEF Award, students must be running their own business. They were required to write an essay describing their entrepreneurial endeavors and future goals. Standardized test scores, GPA, and class rank were also considered in the selection process. NFIB members around the country nominated applicants for the Young Entrepreneur Awards. An independent, outside committee selects a group of qualified semi-finalists.  

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

National Federation of Independent Business
www.nfib.org

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