Female Students Dominate the Region’s Representation at the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) 2005-2006 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards

Nationally, female-owned small businesses are growing at the fastest rate in history and the young women in the Greater Washington, DC area are no exception to this trend. Today, two young Prince George’s County women were announced as top Young Entrepreneurs of the Year by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Chante Goodwin (17, Suitland High School, Your Way Computer Services) and Kailyn Cage (17, Largo High School, Kailyn’s Candy Cantering) both earned top honors in the worldwide competition.

New York, NY
(PRWEB) March 13, 2006 -- Nationally, female-owned small businesses are growing at the fastest rate in history and the young women in the Greater Washington, DC area are no exception to this trend. Today, two young Prince George’s County women were announced as top Young Entrepreneurs of the Year by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). Chante Goodwin (17, Suitland High School, Your Way Computer Services) and Kailyn Cage (17, Largo High School, Kailyn’s Candy Cantering) both earned top honors in the worldwide competition. Each young business woman will receive an all expenses paid trip to New York City, a commemorative plaque, and $1,000.00 as a business grant or college scholarship.

Of the ten awards won by the region in this worldwide competition, including the two top winners, nine went to female students. The other award winning students were: Runners-up: Roderick Orlando Massey, Jr. (Suitland, Millennium Fads); Rayneese Primrose (Suitland, With Thy Hands Portraits); Sekeithia Johnson (Suitland, Unleashed Talent). Honorable mention: Mary Blackford (Academy of Business and Finance at HD Woodson, Seasons Sentiments); ReDonah Anderson and Ashley Jones (Academy of Business and Finance at HD Woodson, Jolie Jewels). Aniela Burant and Brittaney Calloway (Wilson High School, Accessorize!); Natausha Savoy (Largo, ICYUNVME). Each business was evaluated through a business plan, essay questions, and a letter of recommendation. Top winners will be recognized with other worldwide winners in New York City April 25, 2006 at the NFTE Annual Gala and at the NFTE-Greater Washington Dare 2 Dream Gala on May 11, 2006 along with honoree Ted Leonsis, Vice Chairman of America Online and owner of the Washington Capitals.

ABOUT NFTE: Founded in 1987, the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), headquartered in New York City, began as a dropout prevention and academic performance improvement program for at risk high school students. NFTE impacts students’ basic academic and life skills through an experiential entrepreneurship curriculum that reinforces math, reading and writing, and develops skills in critical thinking, teamwork, communication and decision-making. In 1994, NFTE opened its doors in Washington, DC with a 2-year seed grant from the David H. Koch Charitable Foundation. Since then, NFTE Greater Washington has worked to provide over 12,000 youth with the life and entrepreneurial skills needed to become active members in our economy. NFTE Greater Washington has program sites in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, focusing on schools in low-income communities. NFTE’s mission is to teach entrepreneurship to young people from low-income communities to enhance their economic productivity by improving their business, academic, and life skills.

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