Three Central Coast senior high school Business Studies students have been rewarded for their creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and passion at the fourth annual Wild Fig Young Entrepreneur Support (YES) Awards.
Winning student, Ewan Carmichael from Terrigal High School, was awarded $1,000 for his innovative and unique mobile laser tag business idea, Laser Tag Royale, which promises to bring the battle to you by catering for parties and festivals.
Ewan has already created a fully-functioning website for his business and said his long-term goal was to create a laser tag theme park.
Second place ($300) was awarded to Courtney McDermott from Wyong High School.
Third place ($200) was awarded to Cooper Timewell from Central Coast Grammar School for Cura, a wrist device embedded with health analysis and GPS technology designed to combat heart disease on a grand scale.
All three YES Awards fi nalists pitched their business ideas in front of an audience of local business owners, teachers and parents, before being judged by a panel. All members of the judging panel, which included Mr Frank Sammut, Executive Officer of Manufacturing Connect Limited, and Chairman of the YES Awards Committee, and venture capitalist, Mr Bruce Cottrill, said the entries were outstanding and the decision to select a winner was very diffi cult.
Student cash prizes were donated by Forsythes Recruitment and Bridgecoast Finance. The teacher of the winning student received a voucher to enjoy a complimentary dinner for two at L’Isle de France, Terrigal. Terrigal High Business Studies Teacher, Ms Dale Massie, said, “I cannot thank Wild Fig enough for this wonderful opportunity for our students. “All three fi nalists were simply amazing; what a hard job it was for the judges.
“Ewan has benefited immeasurably on so many levels.” Wild Fig Service Alliance is a not-for-profi t organisation consisting of members representing a broad range of established businesses on the Central Coast who are collectively focused on improving service standards within their own businesses and the local community. The Young Entrepreneur Support (YES) Program was launched in 2013 as part of Wild Fig’s commitment to supporting local youth.
Media release, Nov 15, 2016 Phaedra Pym, A Way With Words