CALLING ALL DEARBORN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: GAIN BUSINESS EXPERIENCE, WIN CASH IN MAVERICK CHALLENGE

Last spring, South Dearborn High School Class of 2015 member Dalton Ranshaw won $4,000 participating in the Maverick Challenge sponsored AIM Young Professionals of Dearborn County.

“The Maverick Challenge is a great opportunity. You get out there and meet some wonderful people that will definitely help equip you with things that you’ll need in the future,” Ranshaw says of his experience in last year's challenge.

For the fourth straight year, Dearborn County high school students will have a shot at winning thousands of dollars in the startup business competition pitting them against their other aspiring entrepreneurs throughout southeast Indiana. Online registrations to compete in the AIM YP sponsored local Maverick Challenge are being accepted now through Friday, September 25 at MaverickChallenge.com. Students can also inquire with their high school guidance office.

Students attending Lawrenceburg, East Central, or South Dearborn high schools are eligible to compete, as well as any Dearborn County resident attending high school outside the county. There is no cost to register. Competitors don’t have to go at it alone as teams of up to three students – whether from one high school or different schools within the county – are allowed.

Students don’t need to be operating their own business to enter or have a shot at winning – they just need a good idea, a willingness to dedicate a few extra hours over the course of the school year, and the desire to see their business plan completed. Given a fictional budget of $30,000, participants will have access to online tools and receive plenty of expert assistance along the way. A panel of local business owners, managers, and service providers will give the students valuable advice.

Participating students can win up to $2,000 if they provide the best written business plan by November 30, 2015 and wow the judges with their final presentation in January 2016. Thousands of dollars more will be on the line for Dearborn County’s top student entrepreneur when they advance to compete at the southeast Indiana regional Maverick Challenge competition in February 2014 in Columbus, Indiana.

"Our county-level winners have done very well at the regional Maverick competition in the past. Dalton Ranshaw went on to become the regional champion this year. We want to continue to show Indiana that Dearborn County has some of the best young entrepreneurs in the state," says AIM YP president Mike Wallace.

"Whether they win or not, we continually hear from students that the experience of going through the Maverick Challenge is priceless. Our panel of local judges often remark that the students' business plans are more professional and better than those of adults seeking investment for real business ideas," adds AIM YP vice president Mike Perleberg.

The Maverick Challenge was founded in 2008 by the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce. The competition gives high school students in twelve southeast Indiana counties (Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, Scott, and Switzerland) the chance to learn what it takes to get a small business going. They’ll receive insightful direction on planning, learn to manage finances, and network. The prize money can be used to pay for college or make their Maverick business plan become a reality.