GULF SHORES, AL — Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) 11th grade student Evan Elliott, is unwilling to allow his leg lengthening surgery to interfere with his opportunity to compete in the YEA! Saunders Scholars Competition – his shot at winning a college scholarship and all-expense paid trip to America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C.

His long awaited May 26 leg lengthening surgery and subsequent therapy, scheduled more than a year ago at the Paley Institute in West Palm Beach, has prompted him to compete three weeks earlier than his originally scheduled competition date. Determined to attend, Elliott will make the trek to Rochester, N.Y., May 7-8 for the first of three regional competitions to be held in May prior to the Saunders Scholars National Competition finals June 8-10.

The Saunders Scholars Competition, named for legendary entrepreneur E. Philip Saunders, includes three regional semi-finals that culminate in a national finals competition where YEA! students from across the nation come together to present their business plans on stage to a panel of renowned executives.

Of the 11 students in Elliott’s YEA! class hosted by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, he was selected by a panel of judges comprised of Gulf Shores community business leaders to represent his school and present his business plan for his company, SuccEEd Training, at the Saunders Scholars Regional Competition held in Boca Raton, Fla., May 28-29 and compete against YEA! students across the southern United States.

Elliott says he gave up playing soccer this year due to the pain the leg length difference was causing.

“YEA! has played such an important role since then,” he said. “I have devoted all of my free time and attention to developing my business plan this year. To represent my school in the regional competition would be a huge honor.

In addition to being selected as the young entrepreneur to attend the semifinals, Elliott plans to give 10 percent of all profits from his business to the Paley Institute to help other families afford this type of procedure.

“This is indicative of the honor, character and extraordinary effort of this young man,” Edward Rodriguez, President & CEO, Coastal Alabama Business Chamber, said. “This is a young man who has made us all proud.”

“I want to be able to help other families with children who have been suffering from the same condition as me afford this type of surgery.”

The Northern and Western Saunders Scholars Regional Competitions will be in Rochester, N.Y., May 7-8; and in Phoenix, Ariz., May 14-15. Two winners from each regional competition will advance to the YEA! Saunders Scholars National Competition at America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. hosted by the United States Chamber of Commerce with support from Sam’s Club.

The top three national winners take home college scholarships and generous business startup prize packages.

What does Elliott’s mom and program manager have to say about all this?

“YEA! has been so important to Evan and it has given him drive and determination this year,” she said. “It has also helped him improve socially and academically. To be the local winner and represent his school in the regional competition will have such an impact on his life.”

About YEA!

graduates

• 99 percent of Academy graduates enroll in college.

• 49 percent of YEA! students are female.

• 56 percent of YEA! students are under-represented minorities.

• 19 percent of YEA! students start second businesses.

• 100 percent of Academy graduates graduate from high school on time.

• 2,298 YEA! students nationwide have launched more than 1,700 real businesses in America.

• YEA! students have received millions of dollars in scholarships.

About YEA!

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a 501(C) 3 offering groundbreaking year-long classes that teach middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses.

Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and launch and run their own real, fully formed companies and social movements.

The project-based program includes guest speakers from the local business community and behind-the-scenes trips to local companies and empowers students to take charge of their futures.