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2023 Student Award Recipients

A group of happy young men and women wearing their DECA jackets
DECA logo

The AFE Board of Directors has once again selected DECA for it’s Annual Student Award Program. DECA was founded 75 years ago and has impacted the lives of more the ten million students, educators, school administrators, and business professionals.

AFE is excited to continue providing this support to the dedicated high school and college age students who participate.

2022 Student Award Recipients

A group of eight high school DECA students smiling and wearing dark blazers
DECA logo

The AFE Board of Directors has selected DECA for it’s Annual Student Award Program. DECA was founded 75 years ago and has impacted the lives of more the ten million students, educators, school administrators, and business professionals.

AFE is excited to provide this support to the dedicated high school and college age students who participate.

2021 Student Award Recipients

Ava Collins

Ava Collins

Attending Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ, Ava aspires to own her own clothing, jewelry and accessory business. Currently she works for Instacart, where she is responsible for online order fulfillment. This past year with Covid restrictions prompted Ava to attend her first semester fully online. She realized her ability to work much faster with Instacart by reducing her social interaction with other employees. Even though she followed all the guidelines for social distancing, Ava looks forward to being able to interact with fellow classmates and employees. She is a Business major with 4.0 GPA.

Brianna Iannone

Brianna Iannone

Brianna aspires to be a social entrepreneur by adapting a toy subscription library for kids with special needs and learning disabilities. She is also hoping to manufacture an educational organizational system for children with learning disabilities. Currently, Brianna is an after schoolteacher at Montessori Preschool. This gives her firsthand experience with preparing and leading enrichment activities for all students to promote social, physical and intellectual growth. She started as an intern and learned the accounts billable and receivables and expanded into marketing and HR. This hands-on experience gives Brianna the opportunity to develop her business model to help those in need. Business Management major at Arizona State University with a 3.82 GPA.

Trase Lee

Trase Lee

As a certified Technician at Chrysler Dodge Jeep automotive dealership, Trase is the youngest employee collecting over 40 certifications in automotive technology. He plans on finishing high school this year and advancing to Gwinnett Technical College and eventually opening his own Automotive Service Franchise. The recipient of the 2020 People’s Choice Award from Young Entrepreneurs “The Big Idea Competition”, member of the Army JROTC Cadet and Rader Team as Leader, and remains a member of the School Honor Roll. Trase is physically active as a member of the marching band, high school track team, and basketball. Trase graduated from South Gwinnett Highschool this May with emphasis on Honors College Prep and a 3.2 GPA.

Tyson Zhang

Tyson Zhang

With the help of business partners, Tyson has developed an innovative beauty services discovery and booking platform. The concept behind this idea is to allow pricing adjustments based on the availability of the hairstylist at any given moment. Gaps or available appointment times in the stylists’ schedules might suggest a lower cost than times during the day/week that many customers compete to book. This allows the stylist to better adjust their pricing relative to their availability and gives the customer a price option for choosing a different time for their appointment. This idea has already launched and can be found at www.fayd.app.  Tyson will graduate in 2022 with a degree in Business Administration with a current GPA of 3.5

Alex Pu

Alex Pu

Upon graduation from University of Chicago in June 2022, with a degree in Economics with a Specialization in Business, Alex hopes to pursue his travel startup: Baryl. As one of its co-founders he has spent the last five months networking with serial entrepreneurs, angel investors, professors and interviewing hundreds of potential customers for his business. His business model has been accepted in two early-stage accelerator programs through Future Founders and Edge Entrepreneurship. With Zoom meetings being used exclusively during the COVID-19 restrictions, Alex hosted Zoom medication session and other fun online activities to help reduce the physical stress of quarantining. He also used this time to expand on his cooking Instagram. Alex currently holds a 3.81 GPA

Half of this year’s award money went to the above students/young entrepreneurs with the balance being  awarded to the following organizations:

AZ DECA

AZ DECA

Helping high school students understand challenges facing businesses by participating in various competitions to inspire individual thought and entrepreneur-based ideas and solutions.

 

Bradley University

Bradley University

As a Bradley entrepreneurship major in the Foster College of Business, you learn how to research new products or services and how to develop a plan to launch your own business, product or service. Courses give you a foundation in business theory and show you how to apply that knowledge to unique situations in small or growing ventures.

Bunker Labs

Bunker Labs

Built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation across the U.S.

Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Selecting local entrepreneurs in early stages of development to provide support, financial education, mentoring, consulting and affordable workspace for new ventures.

Future Founders

Future Founders

Immersing youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to create their own opportunities.

 

National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs

National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs

NACCE is a member organization of over 300 community colleges representing nearly 2,000 staff. Presidents, educators, administrators and center directors are focused on igniting entrepreneurship in their community and on their campus.

One Montana

One Montana

Youth and educator entrepreneurship programming is one component of the organization’s overall mission of social, economic and environmental sustainability for Montana.

 

Oregon Entreprenuers Network

Oregon Entreprenuers Network

Fostering the flow of entrepreneurial ideas, services and capital to help connect emerging Northwest businesses to growth-stimulating expertise and valuable resources.

 

Pledge 1% Colorado

Pledge 1% Colorado

Pledge 1% is an easy way to leverage a portion of your future success to support nonprofits in your community. It’s a small commitment today that can make a huge impact tomorrow.

 

Renaissance Entrepreneur Center

Renaissance Entrepreneur Center

Helping strengthen and sustain communities by empowering economically diverse entrepreneurial men and women through the creation of new businesses, new jobs and promoting financial self-sufficiency.

 

Square 1

Square 1

An accelerator services company providing resources to a broad range of entrepreneurs interested in turning ideas and research into business start-ups.

 

The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship

The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship

Providing entrepreneurs support in business education, coaching and networking to drive economic growth and job creation in Huntsville, Alabama since 2003.

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization

CEO informs, supports and inspires college students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation.

Youth Entrepreneurs

Youth Entrepreneurs

Youth Entrepreneurs help students, especially those living in fragile communities, by igniting a passion for business education and entrepreneurship that will transform their thinking and provide a path to opportunity and fulfillment they never knew existed.

 

2020 Student Award Recipients

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and classroom lockdowns, AFEUSA donated the 2020 Student Award monies to the following schools and organizations to aid in their entrepreneur-based programs.

The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship

The Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship

Providing entrepreneurs support in business education, coaching and networking to drive economic growth and job creation in Huntsville, Alabama since 2003.

National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs

National Association of Community College Entrepreneurs

NACCE is a member organization of over 300 community colleges representing nearly 2,000 staff. Presidents, educators, administrators and center directors are focused on igniting entrepreneurship in their community and on their campus.

Arizona Women’s Education and Entrepreneur Center

Arizona Women’s Education and Entrepreneur Center

Offers women entrepreneurs business and training workshops through one-on-one counseling, mentoring and online programs throughout Arizona.

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization

CEO informs, supports and inspires college students to be entrepreneurial and seek opportunity through enterprise creation.

Future Founders

Future Founders

Immersing youth in experiences that inspire and empower them to create their own opportunities.

 

Bunker Labs

Bunker Labs

Built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation across the U.S.

Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Enterprise Center in Johnson County

Selecting local entrepreneurs in early stages of development to provide support, financial education, mentoring, consulting and affordable workspace for new ventures.

Square 1

Square 1

An accelerator services company providing resources to a broad range of entrepreneurs interested in turning ideas and research into business start-ups.

 

One Montana

One Montana

Youth and educator entrepreneurship programming is one component of the organization’s overall mission of social, economic and environmental sustainability for Montana.

 

AZ DECA

AZ DECA

Helping high school students understand challenges facing businesses by participating in various competitions to inspire individual thought and entrepreneur-based ideas and solutions.

 

Renaissance Entrepreneur Center

Renaissance Entrepreneur Center

Helping strengthen and sustain communities by empowering economically diverse entrepreneurial men and women through the creation of new businesses, new jobs and promoting financial self-sufficiency.

 

Oregon Entreprenuers Network

Oregon Entreprenuers Network

Fostering the flow of entrepreneurial ideas, services and capital to help connect emerging Northwest businesses to growth-stimulating expertise and valuable resources.

 

Youth Entrepreneurs

Youth Entrepreneurs

Youth Entrepreneurs help students, especially those living in fragile communities, by igniting a passion for business education and entrepreneurship that will transform their thinking and provide a path to opportunity and fulfillment they never knew existed.

 

2019 Student Award Recipients

 

Jamie Kim

Jamie Kim

Cornell University

Pursuing her proprietary granola business called “bumble and butter” at the commercial kitchens of Cornell University. Plans on making product at-scale with a manufacturer in Vermont. Goals include distribution to additional Whole Foods grocery stores.

Lily Ellison

Lily Ellison

Cactus Shadows High School

Developed Handmade Soap Club and markets specialty soaps online through a monthly subscription plan.

Kristian Krugman

Kristian Krugman

San Diego State University

Created a plan to repurpose restaurant food waste launching soulmuch foods in 2017.

Moe Mitchell

Moe Mitchell

North Central College

Developed an app for lawn service called Moe Mow’s which is a tech enabled lawn service allowing homeowners to save time and money related to their landscaping needs.

Brent Chase

Brent Chase

Northwestern University

Developing innovative solutions for those afflicted with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Olivia Oglesby

Olivia Oglesby

St. Louis University

Planning coffee shop as platform for Christian ministry allowing spiritual development and community building.

Hailey Crowell

Hailey Crowell

American University

President of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization at American Univ. Recipient of various awards and volunteers time with younger students.

Meghan Loftus

Meghan Loftus

St. Louis University

With interests in the fashion industry, developed a web based app that helps couples seek out new and exciting classes, activities and ideas for date night by helping local businesses fill empty spots for these activities. Placed fourth in pitch competition.

Monica Vera

Monica Vera

Florida Atlantic University

Plans on opening a fitness center.

Hayden Hutchison

Hayden Hutchison

Fort Hays State University

Developed a mobile based solution to reduce police response time and notify nearby app users of an active shooter situation. Received many awards, instrumental in opening a CEO chapter at Fort Hays, works as a coordinator at dept of entrepreneurship.

Alexander Divito

Alexander Divito

Sunrise Mountain High School

Understands the challenges and benefits of being an entrepreneur.

Adrien Frisque

Adrien Frisque

Peoria MET Prof Academy

Two years in the development stage of helping administration locate students during school-wide emergencies. In addition, program can be used for student attendance.

Doris Smith

Doris Smith

Florida Atlantic University

Tabitha Boyd

Tabitha Boyd

Florida Atlantic University

Studying entrepreneurship in order to open her own yoga studio.

Julianna Curley

Julianna Curley

Saint Louis University

First hand experience with an ice cream start-up that appeared on Shark Tank. Desires to start an alcohol infused cake business that supplements her event planning business.

Madeline Nathe

Madeline Nathe

Saint Louis University

While completing a masters degree in nutrition and dietetics hopes to open her own culinary space to host cooking classes, popup dinner and other events.

George Swoyer

George Swoyer

Salisbury University

As one of the first student Entrepreneurship Consultants at Salisbury University, assisted in the operations and promotions of the Development Hub for Entrepreneurs. Hopes to use this experience to one day develop his own business.

Robert Dawson

Robert Dawson

Arizona State University

While having a pilot slot with the ROTC, is expanding his photography business utilizing a professional website and social media to obtain new paying customers.

Gerardo Abril

Gerardo Abril

Douglas High School

While attending High School, served as President of the local chapter of DECA and is studying business administration.

Kendall Buck

Kendall Buck

Gilbert High School

Attending high school, working as hostess and assisting in marketing efforts at a local restaurant and served as President of the AZ DECA.

2018 Student Award Recipients

 

Robert Dawson

Arizona State Univ

Jacqueline Oseguera

Bradley University

Ryan Huch

Bradley University

Kara Schram

Bradley University

Tia Baylor

Bradley University

Julia Richmond

Brigham Young University

Ben Simpson

Brigham Young University

Alexandra O'Brien

Desert Ridge High School

Katarina Samardzija

Grand Valley State University

Landon Porter

Southern Utah University

Star Barlow

Southern Utah University

Elizabeth Porter

Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design

Timothy Baker

Texas A&M

Sheldon Barrett

Univ of Florida

Asim Zaidi

University of Illinois

Praise Carson

University of Maryland

Robert Ramseur

University of North Texas

Sydney Stevens

University of Southern California

Megan Funke

Augustana College

Cassidy Hartson

Flagler College

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