LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The future lies in the hands of the young and Kentucky high school students are proving they are ready for whatever the future holds for them. Over 150 of the state’s most innovative high schoolers came together to create business solutions for real-world problems during the 2024 Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs Summer Startup Program.
The students were in teams and tackled problems including food deserts, crash-test dummies and challenges faced by breast cancer patients. GSE’s three-week Summer Startup program is described as a non-traditional, intensive learning experience for students and helps develop entrepreneurial skills.
“Kentucky’s youth are amazing and leading in such innovative ways,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky. “With so many great jobs coming to Kentucky, it is exciting to see the next generation working so hard to help us continue our economic momentum. Congrats to everyone for their great ideas and hard work.”
The program culminates with what GSE calls “Demo Day.” Each team pitches their business ideas to an audience and a panel of judges. The judges ask the teams questions and decide on the top three ideas. The winning team receives $1,000, second place is $750 and third place receives $500.
GSE Summer Startup has a pair of sessions, one at Thomas More University in northern Kentucky, which ran from June 16 through July 7 and another at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, which started June 23 and ended July 13.
The first place winning team of the Thomas More University session was Oasis. Their project was a mobile food bank that collaborates with local farmers to address food desert challenges in Appalachia.
Team Oasis is:
- Mason Atnip McCracken County Paducah Tilghman High School
- Carlie Hinken Rowan County Rowan County High School
- Saanvi Vinod Jefferson County ` Ballard High School
- Cindy Wang Fayette County Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
- Andrew Wilson Martin County Martin County High School
The team that won the session at UK was Voluntera. Voluntera worked to improve the connection between nonprofits and teen volunteers, helping to simplify the coordination of volunteer opportunities.
Team Voluntera is:
- Karlee Mellenkamp Mason County Saint Patrick School
- Yash Pathak Jefferson County DuPont Manual High School
- Caden Samuels Bullitt County Bullitt Central High School
- Benjamin Walker Fayette County Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
- Sylvia Wessel Kenton County Beechwood High School
“The GSE Summer Startup experience really has changed so much for me,” said Carlie Hinken, a student from Rowan County High School, who was a winning team member. “I feel like I’ve learned so many skills that I can use further in life, not just in college but in my career. It’s been a great experience, a great program to be in.”
Anne Jewell, president and CEO of GSE says the organization has helped launched at least 70 businesses in the state. She added, “The skills developed and connections made during GSE Summer Startup provide meaningful and lasting benefits for the students and the entire state. We make sure they know Kentucky is here to support their enterprises and encourage them to base their businesses in the commonwealth.”
GSE says over 1,000 high school students have graduated from the Summer Startup program since it started in 2013. Graduates have qualified for millions of dollars in scholarships at universities and colleges across the state.
All Kentucky students in grades 9, 10 and 11 can apply for the Summer Startup Program. The application for GSE’s 2025 Summer Startup program opens later this fall.
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