While enjoying breakfast among old and new friends, Founders and guests were able to hear about how the Small Business Scholarship Program, a program their donations contribute to, benefits entrepreneurial minded students.

Jerry Nelson, the Center for Entrepreneurship Resident Mentor, stared the presentations off by explaining about the Small Business Scholarship Program. Each spring, ten students are selected to participate in the Small Business Scholarship Program. These students are selected after two screening processes. Once selected, these students are required to work forty hours a week on their business during the spring/summer. They must also meet bi-weekly with a mentor provided by the Center for Entrepreneurship. Upon completion of the program, the students are awarded a full-tuition scholarship for the following Fall and Winter semesters. As one of the mentors for the scholarship program, Jerry then introduced Jessica Ricks and Jayson Edwards, two participants in the 2004 Small Business Scholarship Program.

Jessica is a 19-year-old junior majoring in Business Management. She has owned and operated JR Photography for the past four years. Jessica, who experienced tremendous business growth this summer, told how scholarship program helped in the progression of her business. Jessica says that the program helped her minimize mistakes and be more efficient with her time and resources. She said that the scholarship program also provided structure by requiring goals and holding her accountable to them throughout the summer. Jessica told of how she began the summer with the legalities of her business. She worked to develop contracts, register her business name, and obtain a business license. Jessica then discussed her improved marketing strategies, such as a professional website and business cards. Jessica has set expectations for herself based on this experience, and has continued to deal with an evolving and challenging business.

Jayson is a 24-year-old senior majoring in Asian Studies. Jayson opened his company, JDawgs, at beginning of this summer. His hotdog stand has been a successful over the summer, and the number of customers increased dramatically with the start of school. Jayson told of his advertising schemes, remodeling of the hotdog stand, and the excitement of opening the first day. He averages about eighty-hour weeks in his hotdog stand, and continues to receive advice not only from his mentor, but other small businesses in the neighborhood. With the help of his summer mentor, Jayson company’s has been so successful that in the very near future he will be able to open his second hotdog stand.