A Sioux Falls Washington High School student has received First Place in South Dakota's 23rd Annual Business Plan Competition for high school students.
For winning First Place, Alexander Thomason receives a prize of $1,000 and an iPad. Thomason won on a business plan for customized fabric covers that enhance the look of scoliosis braces. His company is called Braced With Style.
The contest is sponsored annually by the South Dakota Bankers Foundation and the Governor's Office of Economic Development. Lt. Governor Matt Michels presented the award to Thomason at the South Dakota Bankers Association's State Legislative Reception in Pierre.
The Business Plan Competition takes an idea for a business that could be started by a student and transfer it into a business plan. South Dakota high schools are notified of the competition, and this year 29 business plans were submitted.
A panel of six judges reviewed the written plans and called six finalists to Pierre for the oral interpretation part of the competition before that same panel judges.
The other finalists included:
Link Tucker, a student at White River High School, won the second place prize of an iPad and $500 for Link's Little League, a plan to have champion football camps that would develop young athletes (2nd and 3rd graders) to compete at a championship level in middle and high school.
Brandon Schrepel, a student at Madison High School, took home the third place prize of an iPad with his plan to open Schrepel's Home Grown Produce Stand, a business that offers you a wide variety of vegetables at reasonable prices.
Hayley Nelson, a student from Bowdle High School, received $300 for Haley's Photography, for her plan to provide a photo studio that will provide pictures with a youthful flair in a friendly, fun and welcoming environment.
Tyler Dosch, from Dupree, SD, received $300 a business plan for Tyler's Trapping; Tyler's plan is that once trapped, these wild animals and their processed furs will provide the income from fur sales to provide cash flow for his continued business venture. He plans to market it to local ranchers, farmers and landowners, as these problem animals may be an issue when killing livestock or destroying property.
Cory Dosch, from Dupree, SD, Received $300 for a business plan for Cory's Custom Reloading, his company will provide an ammunition reloading business to the Dupree area. His target customers would be outdoorsman, hunters and target shooters.
Four alternates were also chosen and each received $100. Those students were Rodney Black Bear from White River High school; Brandon Burg from Madison High School; Kendra Krosch form Miller High School and Tanner Heuer from Hoven High School.
Courtesy: Sioux Falls School District
