OLDENBURG, Ind. — The Maverick Challenge, a business planning competition sponsored by Ripley County Eco15, Franklin County Community Foundation, Ripley County Community Foundation, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce and Oldenburg Academy was hosted at Oldenburg Academy on December 12, 2014.
Community judges adjudicated the 11 students based on the business plans and products they created for the competition. Oldenburg Academy was the only school to participate in the program from Ripley and Franklin County.
The competition is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start up funds from early-stage investors, successful entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Oldenburg Academy Business Teacher Jonathon Maple is the head of the Franklin/Ripley County competition and leads the challenge at the school, “I’m so proud of the students – they challenged themselves to go through a process that is real-life.”
Students had the opportunity to work with business and community mentors as well as experience feedback from professional judges.
The winners were announced on Monday, December 15, 2014: Third place winner, which received $200, was FuseBox, a customizable backpack business plan completed by seniors Christopher Nurrenberg and Luke Wukusick.
Second place winner receiving $300 was Razain, a unique wristwatch with features such as a vibrating alarm invented by seniors Ryne Domingo & Matty Hurm.
The first place winner received $500 and went to Two Peas in a Pod, a cooking class in Batesville, Indiana targeting locally grown foods, started by seniors Kirsten Ricke and Sarah Wilder.
Anyone interested in getting involved with the 2015 Maverick Challenge can contact Jonathon Maple at [email protected],“It is a great opportunity to work with some of the most inspiring students in southeastern Indiana.”
