(Dearborn County, Ind.) – Dearborn County high school students who think they have the next great business idea are being given the opportunity to put their idea to work and win up to $1,000.

The Young Professionals of Dearborn County are sponsoring The Maverick Challenge, a business planning competition that gives participants the opportunity to learn what it takes to start their own business.

YP board member and co-founder Andrea Ewan said the Maverick Award perfectly targets the  organization’s goal.

“We knew that we wanted local students to be excited about what Dearborn County has to offer for both family and business, so that after high school, they would want to work here, live here, or return here after college.  This program allows the students to share their ideas, knowledge, and creativity, and hopefully provide a positive end result for Dearborn County as a whole.  We have been working toward a scholarship for this exact purpose, and the Maverick program fits exactly with what we wanted to do,” said Ewan.

All high school students living in Dearborn County or attending either South Dearborn, East Central, or Lawrenceburg high schools are eligible to participate. The sign-up deadline is approaching Friday, November 16.

Competitors will receive guidance and mentoring from members of the Young Professionals of Dearborn County and other local business leaders. They will give presentations to a panel of business owners and submit written business plans which will be judged to see if the business idea could succeed in Dearborn County.

In February, a winner – or winners – will be chosen to claim or share a $1,000 cash prize that could be used to take the business plan further, pay for college, or be saved. The winning business plan(s) will also be eligible for regional competition against other Maverick Challenge winners from 12 southeastern Indiana counties for a $10,000 prize.

Students wanting to register or learn more about The Maverick Challenge can visit www.MaverickChallenge.com or contact one of the following individuals:

Lawrenceburg High School - Bob Brookbank, 812-537-7219 ext 1195, rbrookbank@lburg.k12.in.us 

East Central High School - Kelly Pettit, 812-576-4811, Kpettit@sunmanDearborn.k12.in.us

 
South Dearborn High School - Rocky Legge, 812-926-3772, Gerald.legge@sdcsc.k12.in.us 

Learn more about the Young Professionals of Dearborn County at www.aimyp.com.