CSU, Chico News

Two California high schools were among the top finishers in a competition in New York May 26 that showcased student-run entrepreneurship programs. The event -founded by a California State University, Chico business professor-culminates in an international entrepreneurship competition in Shanghai, China, Aug. 3-6.

In partnership with City University of New York Institute for Virtual Enterprise, SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship) held its fourth annual national competition at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn.

Nine high school teams and more than 100 students took part in the national competition after winning regional competitions. The teams were judged on entrepreneurship, community outreach, civic engagement, environmental responsibility, use of college mentors and use of a business advisory board.

The winner of the competition was a team from Santa Monica High School, which runs a café and school store that fund college scholarships for students. "This is pretty much unbelievable. People are hugging each other, crying. I can't believe we won," Chris Peterson, a senior at Santa Monica High, said. "I mean, we were up against the best of the best, and we just came out on top."

Second place was awarded to Gem State Academy in Idaho, third to Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, CA, and fourth prize to Northwestern Lehigh High School in Pennsylvania. "Each school, student, and teacher is considered a winner in SAGE. We are constantly amazed by the caliber of the students' projects, written and oral reports, and generosity," said Allison Smith, a CSU, Chico student who is part of the planning team for the event.

National competitions are also taking place this spring in China, Russia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Ukraine, Philippines, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. Each country's winner advances to the SAGE World Cup in Shanghai.

GotVMail Communications, a SAGE sponsor, presented Santa Monica High's team with a $1,000 check to pay for travel expenses. SAGE provides hotel and food for the days of the competition, said CSU, Chico business professor Curtis DeBerg, founder of SAGE.

"All country champions fund their own airfare and visa costs to participate in the SAGE World Cup," DeBerg said. "This may sound like a lot to ask, but for a SAGE program to really work in a country or state, it absolutely needs local buy-in from leaders in the business and civic communities, just like interscholastic sports. However, we help them in their fund-raising efforts."

The main sponsors of USA SAGE are Walgreens, Bank of the West, GotVMail, the Harold and Louis Price Foundation, Wells Fargo and the Allstate Foundation. Shelly Taliani, who represents The Allstate Foundation in California, was one of the judges for the California competition. Taliani said, "This program aligns with Allstate's goal to make economic resources and knowledge accessible to the community. By teaching financial literacy and economics to youth, they will be empowered to make informed decisions regarding their financial security throughout their lives."

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 7th, 2006 at 8:30 am and is filed under 2006 Spring.