Five business plans emerged as winners of a business plan contest held at Rosman and Brevard high schools this Spring that resulted in cash awards for the authors. 

First place: (tie -- $250 total prize) went to “Elsie’s 50’s Diner” submitted by Christina Rice and Lea Kilpatrick and “Lea’s Star Salon” by Lea Kilpatrick. 

Second place: (tie -- $150 total prize) was won by “Don Juan Bakery” by Juan Mundo Mendez and “Michala’s Flowers” by Michala Guinn. 

Third place: ($100 prize) went to “Patisserie” by Catie Jackson. 

The contest was co-sponsored by the Transylvania County Schools and Carland & Andersen CPAs and administered by the Transylvania Partnership and the County Planning & Economic Development department. There were a total of 17 plans submitted.  

“It was extremely difficult to select the winners because there were many creative business concepts and presentations, especially in the marketing area,” according to Mark Burrows, Director of Planning & Economic Development and Executive Director of the Transylvania Partnership. “That’s why there were ties for the first two prizes.” 

The evaluation panel judging the entries was comprised of Burrows, Bill Layton, Senior Resource Network coordinator and former business consultant; Chris Nuthall, Vice Chairman of WNC SCORE and previous small business owner; Laura Smith, marketing and business teacher at Davidson River School, and Tom Dempsey, entrepreneur and president of Sylvan Sport, located in Cedar Mountain. 

The awards were presented June 10 at Rosman high school.  

Commenting on the program, Dr. Scott Elliott, Director of Career & Technical Education for the County Schools said, “We expect to continue the contest next year, and we appreciate the collaboration and support from the business community. I hope others will want to join us in growing this competition. It’s an excellent way to reinforce and supplement the business-related instruction in our schools. We realize the importance of entrepreneurship and small business ownership in the future of our economy, and it is vital that we do everything possible to prepare our students for that future.”

Also present at the awards ceremony were Dr. Jeff McDaris, Superintendent of Schools, and Rosman representatives Brian Weaver, principal; Lisa Gillespie, business education teacher; and Billie Wilson, family & consumer sciences teacher. 

For further information or to make comments, email bill.layton@transylvaniacounty.org or call 884-3205.

Student winners of the high school business plan competition are, from left, Christina Rice, Lea Kilpatrick, Catie Jackson, Michala Guinn and Juan Mundo Mendez