WHAT – YBEX – YOUTH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS
WHEN – Saturday, May 5, 2012
WHERE – Kerry Vickar Centre, Melfort, SK
WHY - To recognize and encourage the outstanding achievements of young people in Northeast Saskatchewan and encourage Entrepreneurship as a Career Option. YBEX is a project that engages youth with the community in ways that increase their own self-esteem and level of competency. It showcases what youth have to offer to their communities. Even though some students will not start a business in rural Saskatchewan immediately, some may consider the option after attending post secondary education and return to the northeast. A hypothetical, academic perspective, combined with local grass-roots insight is a powerful mechanism for creating new businesses and knowledge!
WHO – Winners are outlined below.
Community Futures Newsask hosted their 11th Annual Youth Business Excellence Awards (YBEX) in Northeast Saskatchewan. There were 123 people in attendance for the YBEX Awards Dinner, which was held May 5, 2012 at the Kerry Vickar Centre, Melfort, SK. This event has grown significantly over the past eleven years. Since inception over 467 students from grade six – twelve and youth out of school, under the age of 30 within the Northeast region have participated. This year there were 21 submissions involving 40 youth.
Awards were provided for the creation of a business idea and development of a BUSINESS PLAN. Submissions clearly described and developed a business idea and demonstrated ingenuity and effort. Cash prizes for first place ($300.00), second place ($200.00) and third place ($100.00) were awarded to both individual and group categories. Cash prizes were also awarded to the school or association equal to half of the prize value of the winning student.
Awards provided for an OPERATING BUSINESS VENTURE category clearly evaluated the operations of their business including problem solving, target setting and goal accomplishment. Cash prizes for first place ($300.00) were awarded to individuals in grades 6-9 and grades 10-12. Cash prizes were also awarded to the school or association equal to half of the prize value linked to the winning submission.
A new category this year, BUSINESS VENTURE 2, was for any business venture that has submitted in previous years and illustrates significant changes, expansion or improvements in growth/product/service, marketing, ideas, etc. Cash prizes for first place ($300.00) and second place ($200.00) were awarded to individuals in grades 6-9. Cash prizes were also awarded to the school or association equal to half of the prize value linked to the winning submission.
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT awards were presented to submissions, which demonstrated exceptional effort and outstanding achievement in one or more areas.
Students qualifying for the three special achievement awards received a $50.00 cash award.
AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS AWARDS sponsored by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture were chosen for demonstrated effort and outstanding achievement in producing a Business Plan in an Agricultural business or a business with Agricultural Value Added potential. A submission in the Business Plan Category was awarded $100, and a submission in the Business Venture Category was awarded $100.
THE INFOSOURCE AWARD. An award in the amount of $100.00 was provided to the YBEX entrant that demonstrated an exceptional use of secondary research using online resources.
The MIKE BUTLER MEMORIAL AWARD is to honor past Board Chairman, Mike Butler from Hudson Bay. The criteria for this award is: commitment to community; passion for a chosen field; and quality of work. The recipient receives a $100.00 cash award.
Categories & Winners
Business Plan Award
To compete in this category, applicants created and developed an imaginary business that they would like to own and operate.
The business could:
- Sell a product or provide a service that already exists
- Change an existing product or service
- Invent a new product or service
Applicants described their imaginary business, what motivated them to choose their product or service, why their product or service was needed in the community, and described the customers that would support their business. Points were allocated for including monthly and yearly sales and expense estimates, a marketing plan to sell the product or service, and a plan to address any problems that may occur in operating the business. The applicants of the Business Plan Category were judged on the description of their business and customers, their operation/advertising strategy, creativity, business viability, organization, and problem solving skills.
Business Plan Individual Category Winners
Grades 6 – 9
- 1st place winner – Rebecca Dyck, “Vegetate”, Carrot River
- 2nd place winner – Jessica Vik, “Ladybug Fashions”, Nipawin
- 3rd place winner – Antoine Garez, “Sun Save”, Nipawin
Grades 10-12
- 1st place winner – Amanda Dyck, “Exquisite Designs”, Carrot River
- 2nd place winner – Autumn Shortt, “Spin it – Dance Studio”, Carrot River
- 3rd place winner – Matt Tremblay, “Tremblay Trades”, Carrot River
Out of School Youth
- 1st place winner – Sarah Rospad, “ShutterBeat Studios”, Nipawin
- 2nd place winner – Bryce Cook, “Northeast PDR”, Nipawin
- 3rd place winner – Navneet Dadwal, “Genesis Tax Service,” Melfort
Business Plan Group Category Winners
Grades 10-12
- 1st place winner – James Holmes & Cody Gorse, “Knee Deep”, Carrot River
- 2nd place winner – Randy Buck, Skyler Chaboyer, Kerrianne Crate, Steven Crate, Kole Dorion, Taylor McKenzie & Leah Sewap, “Fresh Island Greens”, Cumberland House
- 3rd place winner – Rhett Stevenson & Colyn Olson, “One Step Forward,” Carrot River
Business Venture Award
To compete in this category, applicants described a revenue-generating activity such as a student run business, or an out-of-school activity that produced income for the individual(s).
Some examples of After School Businesses are: Yard Care/Snow Removal Business, Internet Web-site Design, or Computer Help for Beginners etc.
Participants created their own company, raised capital, produced and marketed their product or service. They created a Business Plan that described their business, their product or service, and their customers.
Points are awarded for showing start-up costs along with monthly/yearly sales and expenses as well as describing their goals for their business and indicating whether or not those goals were reached and the experience gained by operating the business.
The applicants in “Operating A Business Venture” Category are judged upon their ability to operate an actual business, organization, problem-solving skills, creativity, and clear recognition of the learning experience gained from this process.
Business Venture Individual Category Winners
Grades 6 – 9
- 1st place winner – Autumn Lawson, “The Pig Pen”, Rose Valley
Grades 10-12
- 1st place winner – Makayla Lupien, “Photography by Makayla”, Rose Valley
Business Venture Group Category Winners
Grades 10 – 12
- 1st place winner – Taylor LeBlanc (Zenon Park), Wyatt Lykken, Matt Mann, Oksana Dubasov, Orianna Dubasov, Tori Hayward, Matt Kushniruk, Matt Sieben, Meredy Wilson & Bailey Darmokid (Tisdale), “Ornigourmet Birdseed Ltd.”
- 2nd place winner – Jenna deBoth & Melissa Paskell, “Handcrafted”, Hudson Bay
Business Venture 2 Award
Any business venture may compete in this category that has submitted in previous years and illustrates significant changes, expansion or improvements in growth/product/service, marketing, ideas, etc.
The plan must include one or more of the following:
- Additional products or services (not just modifying something slightly, but significantly expanding and adding different products or major modifications of products or services that is worthy of a prize.)
- Entirely different or additional marketing [i.e. formerly sold items at local events and now products are available for sale in stores; or items now available online; or website development to market a new approach].
- Significant growth in sales – financials indicating considerably increased growth compared to previous entry.
Applicants are judged upon their ability to operate an actual business, organization, problem-solving skills, creativity, and clear recognition of the learning experience gained from this process.
Business Venture 2 Individual Category Winners
Grades 6 – 9
- 1st place winner – Alyssa Gray, “Aly’s Bead Charms”, Nipawin
- 2nd place winner – Tysen Rachkewich, “The Pumpkin Patch”, Rose Valley
SPECIAL ACHEIVEMENT AWARDS
Special achievement awards were presented to those submissions that demonstrated exceptional effort and outstanding achievement in one or more areas. Students qualifying for the three special achievement awards received a $50.00 cash award.
- 1st Special Achievement – Nicole Rempel & Diane Eberle, “Shop-eez”, Nipawin
- 2nd Special Achievement – Rebecca Grona, “The Hideaway Cabin”, St. Brieux
- 3rd Special Achievement – Tamara Clark, “Inspirations Photography”, Tisdale
Agricultural Business Award
- Business Venture - Taylor LeBlanc (Zenon Park), Wyatt Lykken, Matt Mann, Oksana Dubasov, Orianna Dubasov, Tori Hayward, Matt Kushniruk, Matt Sieben, Meredy Wilson & Bailey Darmokid (Tisdale), “Ornigourmet Birdseed Ltd.”
- Business Plan - Rebecca Dyck, “Vegetate”, Carrot River
- Infosource Award – Amanda Dyck, “Exquisite Designs”, Carrot River
Mike Butler Memorial Award
Randy Buck, Skyler Chaboyer, Kerrianne Crate, Steven Crate, Kole Dorion, Taylor McKenzie & Leah Sewap, “Fresh Island Greens”, Cumberland House.
This project is funded by many community minded businesses. Community Futures Newsask is committed to working in the north east to achieve development in business and communities. This project is partially funded by Western Economic Diversification Canada