What’s Your Big Idea? Entrepreneurship Contest
Unleash your ideas! Imagine, create and invent a new product and make your mark on the world. Entries about your BIG IDEA can be in the form of original artwork or an original essay. The Essay/Art Contest is open to 3rd – 6th grade students who attend Arlington public schools.
3rd – 6th Grade
Essay theme: What’s your creative idea for a product you could sell or a business you could create, own and operate in Arlington, Texas, the U.S.A., and the world?
Artwork: Create an advertisement for a product you could sell or a business you could own/operate in Arlington, Texas, the U.S.A., and the world?
Great Prizes!
Winners from every school in Arlington that submits entries will have winners!
Semifinalist
The top three essay and artwork entries in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade from every school will receive ribbons and be invited to Arlington Entrepreneurship Day at the Arlington Convention Center on Saturday, March 6, 2010.
Grand Prize
The three top essay submissions and the top three artwork submissions will be selected from each grade level—3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th. Winners in both the essay and the artwork categories will be announced during Entrepreneurship Day at the Arlington Convention Center on Saturday, March 7, 2009 from 2-3 p.m. Cash prizes will be awarded.
- First Place – $100
- Second Place - $75
- Third Place - $50
The 24 grand prize winners will also receive a T-shirt and a Trophy!
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- All entries should be submitted no later than December 4, 2009 via school district mail to The Class in The Parks.
- Each entry must reflect the theme for the appropriate grade level. You may enter one or both parts of the contest.
- All written entries must be less than 300 words, typed or hand-written neatly.
- All artwork entries must be original. Designs are to be original drawings and may include original computer graphics. Artwork may not be 3D and must be on 8.5 by 11-inch paper.
- Each entry must have the contest cover sheet stapled to the front of the contest entry that includes the student name, school, grade, homeroom teacher, parent/guardian’s name and phone number. No identifying information should be included in the body of the essay or be visible on the artwork.
- Essays will be judged on the basis of grade-appropriate focus and coherence, organization, development of ideas, voice and conventions (grammar, spelling and punctuation). Artwork will be judged on basic principles of art and advertisement effectiveness.
- For more information, contact The Class in The Parks at 817-466-0578.
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Do you ever wonder what it takes to develop and launch a business? Find out by participating in the “My Big Idea” Entrepreneurship and Scholarship Contest! Unleash your ideas! Imagine, create, and invent a new product. Take that idea and develop it into a business.
The purpose of this event is to identify and recognize high school students who are interested in starting their own business someday. For entrepreneurs to succeed in today’s world they must not only have an innovative idea or exciting product but they must have a plan. This competition is a starting point for students to share ideas, organize concepts, and compete against one another. By participating, each entrepreneur, or a team of no more than three entrepreneurs, will have the opportunity to develop a detailed business plan that includes:
- Description of the business
- Analysis of the competition
- Analysis of the Target Market
- Proposed marketing strategy and sales plan
- Planned management and organization of proposed business
Great Prizes!
The top 25 semifinalists chosen will have the opportunity to receive professional business coaching to further develop their ideas through posters. An Awards and Recognition Ceremony will be held on March 6th, 2010 at the Arlington Convention Center where all semifinalists will be invited to display their posters and be recognized. The Grand Prize of a $2,500 scholarship will also be awarded to the top entrepreneur, or team of entrepreneurs, by a panel of judges. In addition, all participants will receive professional feedback from qualified judges on the business plans they submit.
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The Competition Timeline
Registration & Submission of Entry Form
The first step of the competition is for individuals and/or teams to register by completing the entry form, which details the business concept, market opportunity, competitive advantage, resources required, and business organization. Entry forms are due on December 4th, 2009, and are then judged by the Arlington Chamber selection committee.
Semi-Final Round
The Arlington Chamber selection committee will determine the top 25 entrepreneurs/teams to advance to the semi-final round and announce their selections by January 8th, 2010. The competing entrepreneurs/teams will be invited to participate in a series of workshops throughout January and February, covering topics relevant to completing a business plan. They each also have the opportunity to work with a team mentor who has expertise in their field of interest.
Final Round
Final project posters and business plans will be due on February 26th, 2010 for final judging. The plans will be evaluated on the basis of the originality of the idea, viability of the business model, and the potential for future financial success.
Awards and Recognition
Each year we close the competition with an Awards and Recognition Ceremony that is open to the public. On March 6th, 2010 each of the top 25 semifinalists will be invited to display their poster and business idea, and will be recognized. At the end of the recognition ceremony, the judges will make their announcement of the winning business idea. The winning entrepreneur/team of entrepreneurs will receive a $2,500 college scholarship valid at Tarrant County College or the University of Texas at Arlington.
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Contest Rules
- The “My Big Idea” Contest is open to all 12th grade students interested in entrepreneurship.
- A complete “My Big Idea” contest entry form must be completed for each business idea.
- Both individual and team entries will be accepted.
- Entries competing as a team are subject to an equal distribution of the scholarship, if awarded.
- All written entries must be less than six typed pages.
- All entries should be submitted no later than December 4, 2009 via school district mail to The Class in The Parks.
- Essays will be judged on the basis of coherence, organization, development of ideas, voice and conventions (grammar, spelling and punctuation).
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