Online 2016 Scholarship Application Now Available
NFIB teams with VISA to boost award amounts
OLYMPIA, Wash., Oct. 1, 2015—The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Young Entrepreneur Foundation announced today that its scholarship application for the 2016 NFIB Young Entrepreneur Awards is now available.
High school seniors who run their own business and plan to attend a two- or four-year university, college, or vocational institute during the fall of 2016 are eligible to apply.
“These ambitious young business owners continue to impress us with their innovation, spirit and work ethic each year,” said Director of the Young Entrepreneur Foundation Molly Young. “It is so important that we support tomorrow’s business leaders and encourage them to fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams.”
The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation offers scholarships that recognize high school seniors who have demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative through having established and run their own businesses. The scholarship program’s goal is to raise awareness among the nation’s youth of the critical role that private enterprise and entrepreneurship play in the American economy.
As an added bonus this year, VISA Inc. has agreed to double the awards. Ninety five of the scholarship winners will now receive a $2,000 award and five students will be chosen as Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalists. The finalists will qualify for NFIB’s two top scholarship awards and attend a ceremony in Washington, DC where the winners will be named. The Young Entrepreneur of the Year recipient will receive $25,000, the Dan Danner Leadership Award winner will receive $15,000 and the remaining three finalists will each receive $10,000.
“The increase in the amount of money we will be providing to young entrepreneurs across the country shows NFIB’s and VISA’s commitment to supporting youth entrepreneurship and the future of small business,” said Young.
What do students need to know?
Since 2003, the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation has awarded more than 2,700 scholarships totaling $2.7 million. Last year the Foundation awarded 100 deserving student entrepreneurs $145,000.
“Any high school senior who runs their own business and plans to further their education is encouraged to apply for this scholarship,” Young continued. “We could not be more excited to open this year’s application and see what wonderful things the class of 2016 has to offer. We wish all of the applicants the best of luck!”
More information about the YEF scholarship program and past recipients is available here.
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The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization promoting the importance of small business and free enterprise to the nation’s youth. More information is available at www.NFIB.com/YEF. The Foundation is associated with the National Federation of Independent Business; NFIB is the nation’s leading small business advocacy association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small- and independent-business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system.
