photo by: Courtesy of Douglas County

Area students who competed in the Douglas County Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge are pictured on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, at Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center.

Douglas County is accepting applications for a competition where students pitch their business ideas, also known as the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge.

This will be the seventh year for the Douglas County event, and the competition is open to students who are in grades six through 12 and reside in the county. It will be held on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center, 2920 Haskell Ave., from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The event includes preparing a written summary, delivering an elevator pitch and formal presentation, and setting up a trade show display. Students will compete for $3,000 in prize money. Their work will be evaluated by local entrepreneurs, educators, and community leaders. The registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m.

“The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is one of the coolest events Douglas County gets to be part of each year. I love that we can help showcase local youth who are endlessly creative and who have neat ideas to share,” said Douglas County Commissioner Shannon Reid in a press release. Reid has previously served as a judge for the event.

In previous competitions, students have presented businesses such as swimming lesson services, resale clothing, jewelry, baked goods, pet sitting, lawn tool rentals, and more. Last year, 15 students from nine different businesses participated in the challenge.

The competition is sponsored by Network Kansas, Douglas County, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, and K-State Research and Extension. According to a press release, Douglas County is one of several communities throughout Kansas hosting this event, which aims to provide students with a hands-on learning experience. The first-place winner will have the chance to compete at the state level and receive additional prize money and recognition.

To register for the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, visit https://dgcoks.gov/yec.