Past YEC Events
2019-2020 YEC Series
The 7th annual YEC Series featured 793 high school and middle school students from 46 Kansas E-Communities. The Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and guidelines put out by the CDC.
Please click here to access the complete YEC winners’ list.
The 7th annual YEC Series consisted of 44 local level competitions.
2018-2019 YEC Series
The 6th annual YEC Series featured 865 high school and middle school students from 43 Kansas E-Communities. The Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge awarded young entrepreneurs with $50,000 in prize money at the KEC State Championship at Kansas State University.
Fifty-six businesses consisting of 71 students presented their entrepreneurship concepts. Student teams submitted a written executive summary, presented an elevator pitch, and answered detailed questions in a mock board room with judges in the initial round of the competition. Thirty businesses also participated in an optional trade show.
1st Prize, Existing Business Division, $4,000: Ethan Lang, Ellis County E-Community, Making Cents of Finance
1st Prize, Technology Division, $4,000: Austin Jones and Hunter Vasquez, Blue Valley, Drone Estate
1st Prize, Open Division, $4,000: Cassie Strickler, Republic County E-Community, The Bomb Lip Balm
1st Prize, Agriculture Division, $4,000: Dylan Ketzner and Brady Ketzner, Cheylin E-Community, Ketzner Feed Roasted Gold
The sixth annual YEC Series consisted of 40 local level competitions, which culminated in the KEC State Championship on April 30 at Kansas State University. The event was organized by K-State with sponsorship support from the Kansas Masons.
2017-2018 YEC Series
The 5th annual YEC Series featured 709 high school and middle school students from 35 Kansas E-Communities. The Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge awarded young entrepreneurs with more than $18,000 in prize money at the KEC State Championship at Kansas State University.
2017-2018 KEC State Championship
Forty-four businesses consisting of 61 students presented their entrepreneurship concepts. Student teams submitted a written executive summary and presented a formal, 4-minute presentation to judges in the initial round of the competition. Twenty-six businesses also participated in an optional trade show.
1st Prize $5,000: Nicholas Flores, Wichita e2e E-Community, Kestral Aerial, LLC
2nd Prize $4,000: Bridget Stanton, Riley County E-Community, Bridge Digital Marketing
3rd Prize $3,000: Sarah Clausen, Caitlin Low, and Wyntr Jacobs, Cherokee County E-Community, Live Oriental
4th Prize $2,000: Cole Srajer and Max Svoboda, Marion County E-Community, Cole’s Cards
The fifth annual YEC Series consisted of 31 local level competitions, which culminated in the KEC State Championship on April 24 at Kansas State University. The event was organized by K-State with sponsorship support from the Kansas Masons.
2016-2017 YEC Series
The 4th annual YEC Series featured 454 high school and middle school students from 29 schools across Kansas and awarded young entrepreneurs with more than $11,000 in prize money at the YEC State Championship at Fort Hays State University.
2016-2017 YEC State Championship
Thirty-three businesses consisting of 48 students presented their entrepreneurship concepts. Student teams submitted a written executive summary and presented elevator pitches to judges in the initial round of the competition. Twenty-eight businesses also participated in an optional trade show.
1st Prize $5,000: Christian Calliham, Colby High School, CT Feeds
2nd Prize $2,500: Jade Artzer, Goodland High School, Made by Jade
3rd Prize $1,250: Macie LeMarr, Kobe Spiess, Colten Wiesner, Plainville High School, Cardinal Corn
4th Prize $500: Bridget Stanton, Gloria Deo Academy, Bridge Digital Media
5th Prize $500: Kaylee Guffey, KALJ Academy, Hangin’ Around
6th Prize $500: Natalie Wise, Halle Hartner, Republic County Jr./Sr. High School, WiseHart
Best of the Tradeshow $500: Macie LeMarr, Kobe Spiess, Colten Wiesner, Plainville High School, Cardinal Corn
Best in Business $250: Amber Laskowksy, Canyon Laskowksy, Dodge City High School, Dodge City Aerial Photography
Ready to Launch $250: Ethan Brown, Salina Central High School, Ability Apparel
Sponsors: The fourth annual YEC Series consisted of 21 local level competitions, which culminated in the state championship on April 24 at Fort Hays State University. The event was organized by Network Kansas with generous support from Fort Hays State University, Midwest Energy, Sunflower Energy, the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Inc., and The Sweet Granada.
2015-2016 YEC Series
The 3rd annual YEC Series featured 242 high school and middle school students from 30 schools across Kansas and awarded young entrepreneurs with more than $10,000 in prize money at the KEC State Championship at Kansas State University.
2015-2016 KEC Championship
Twenty-nine high school teams and four university teams presented their entrepreneurship concepts at the KEC State Championship. Student teams submitted a written executive summary and presented elevator pitches to judges in the initial round of competition. Finalists also participated in a formal presentation.
1st Prize High School Division $1,500: Tegan Maxson, Gwyn Dean, Labette County High School, M & D Crop Diagnosis
2nd Prize (Tie) High School Division $1,000: Corbin Crawford, Logan McHenry, Hoisington High School, Cardinal Screen Repair
2nd Prize (Tie) High School Division $1,000: Ahrash Karbasi, Chris James, Blue Valley Northwest High School, Competitive Gaming Legion
Sponsors: The third annual YEC Series consisted of 16 local level competitions, which culminated in the state championship at Kansas State University. The state championship was organized by Kansas State University in partnership with NetWork Kansas.
2014-2015 YEC Series
The 2nd annual YEC Series featured 125 high school and middle school students from 21 schools across Kansas and awarded young entrepreneurs with more than $10,000 in prize money at two YEC Regional Championships in northwest and southeast Kansas.
2014-2015 YEC Northwest Regional Championship
1st Prize $2,500: Christian Calliham, Calliham Horse Boarding
2nd Prize $1,250: Sabine Godinez, Logan Reding & Arely Yanez, The Mariachi House
3rd Prize $750: Jade Artzer, Made by Jade
2014-2015 YEC Southeast Regional Championship
1st Prize $2,500: Deven Foster, FAST
2nd Prize $1,250: Wyntr Jacobs, Caitlin Low, Sarah Clausen, Snowflakes Bundt Cakes
3rd Prize $750: Auston Bevins, Steam Dot
Sponsors: The second annual YEC series consisted of 11 local level competitions in two regions. The YEC Series and Regional Championships were supported by NetWork Kansas, AT&T, Joplin Regional Partnership, Columbus Telephone / Optic Broadband, Midwest Energy, Sunflower Electric, The Bank, and Wheatland Electric.
2013-2014 YEC Series
NetWork Kansas piloted the inaugural YEC Series during the 2013-2014 academic year as a hands-on entrepreneurship competition series for students from select northwest Kansas communities in grades 7-12. The inaugural YEC Series featured 48 students from seven schools across Kansas and awarded students with $5,700 in prize money at one YEC Regional Championship in northwest Kansas.
2013-2014 YEC Northwest Regional Championship
1st Place $2,500: Mallory Horinek
2nd Place $1,250: Reece Leonard
3rd Place $750: Jade Artzer
Twenty students presented their entrepreneurship concepts at the YEC Northwest Regional Championship. Student teams submitted a written executive summary and presented elevator pitches and a tradeshow booth to judges in the initial round of the competition. Six finalists also competed in a final round, with students winning $5,700 in prize money.