Allen Dayton young entrepreneur scholarship winners announced

Ten young entrepreneurs from Nebraska high schools will be presented with scholarships to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Feb. 22 at the annual Celebrate Entrepreneurship Awards Banquet. The students were selected from more than 500 Nebraska seniors nominated for displaying outstanding entrepreneurial potential.

The Allen Dayton Nebraska Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Contest, which is designed to support students who want to own their own businesses, is sponsored by Allen Dayton, president of Dayton Cos., and Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship at UNL.

Scholarship winners are:

First place ($2,000 scholarship): Alan John Wiese of Beatrice High School (nominated by Carla Meyer). Wiese hopes to form a livestock farming operation and to help Nebraska farmers improve their efficiency and effectiveness with Global Positioning Systems.

Second place ($1,000): Lucas Robert Bingham of Waverly High School (nominated by Waverly High School committee). Bingham hopes to own an audio-visual equipment rental and sales business.

Other scholarship winners ($500 each):

* Whitney Lynn Clausen of Norfolk Catholic High School (nominated by John Beellor). Clausen hopes to open a medical research lab that will develop alternative medicine for common sicknesses up to serious viruses.

* Cody Alan Dvorak of Stuart High School (nominated by Patty Hanzlik). Dvorak hopes to become a landscape designer and entrepreneur.

* Hannah Feller of Wisner-Pilger High School (nominated by Karrie Bodwel). Feller is interested in journalism and hopes to have her own newspaper business.

* Michelle C. Foster of Alliance High School (nominated by Patricia Jones). Foster hopes to run business in food industry including buying a franchise from her father's co-owned restaurant.

* Alisha Harrington of Omaha Burke High School (nominated by Jaymie Phillips). Harrington hopes to open a clinic for abused families and social facilities that will try to benefit everyone.

* Erin Hays of Elm Creek Public School (nominated by Melanie Klingehoefer). Hayes hopes to expedite her hometown's economic growth by opening a helpful and compassionate small-town grocery store.

* Grant Runyan of Ralston High School (nominated by Tracy Hinchcliff). Runyan hopes to own a used car dealership like his father's.

* Ross Wollenburg of Tri County High School (nominated by Beth Dunker). Wollenburg hopes to own a swine industry complete with the nurseries and finishers.

For more information about the Allen Dayton Nebraska Young Entrepreneur Contest, visit www.cba.unl.edu/outreach/ent/yec; write to the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship, CBA 209, Lincoln, NE 68588-0847; e-mail entprenshp@unlnotes.unl.edu; or phone (402) 472-3353.

CONTACT: Andrea L. Johnson, Center for Entrepreneurship, (402) 472-3353