By Jior Cameron

The Seattle Medium Last Friday, the 2nd Annual Making The Business: Youth IT Challenge (YITC) competition was held at the John Stanford Center for Excellence in Education in Seattle. YITC was designed to engage students of color in the development of an original business idea, which leverages technology as its base. The program’s main goal is to get minority youth into the IT pathway by stimulating interest, awareness, and excitement for the IT business world. The program ultimately seeks to help bridge the digital (technological) divide between minorities and non-minorities. “[This program] will help the kids use technology as a tool,” said Patricia Ryan, General Manager of the Pac West District at Microsoft. “[With the program] we wanted to ask the question, ‘how do you leverage technology to help you achieve your aspirations?’ This program allows the kids to see how they can use technology to go places. The program helps them achieve that potential.” The event, sponsored by Microsoft and The National Urban League, had 17 participants from Seattle high schools representing Franklin, the Center School, University Prep, and Garfield. To apply for the program students had to have a minimum GPA of 2.5, a letter or recommendation, and submit a 250 word essay on a specific question dealing with IT and entrepreneurship. After competing locally, the winners will compete in New York during the National Business Plan Competition. The participants will compete for $15,000 in prizes and saving bonds against other local winners from Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, St. Paul, and Washington, D.C. The YITC competition was the culmination of 10 weeks of hard work. The participants’ curriculum included: technology awareness and education, brainstorming, idea generation, and business plan development. Traditional classroom instruction, field trips, and guest speakers helped facilitate the learning of this material. Hosted by KIRO-TV’s Essex Porter, the YITC competition included the presentation of the business plans of the four teams to the judges, friends, family, instructors, coordinators, and volunteers. Representatives from Microsoft, Univ. of Washington Business School, A.R.T., Inc., Coastal Environmental Systems, and Obsidian LLC helped judge this year’s competition. Team One’s (Interlink) plan, Search It!, dealt with customized, internet based scholarship searches. Team Two’s (JKNY) plan, Passion Gifts, featured gift baskets. Team Three’s (Legit M&Ms) plan, Urban Effort, sought to match qualified and motivated teens with prospective employers. Team Four’s (Ligers) plan, Floral Accents, dealt with interior landscaping. Incorporating skills and ideas learned in the program, each presentation included a market summary, goals/objectives, budgets, mission statements, risks/rewards, and 30-day action plans, among other categories. But even with the somewhat set structure of these sellable, real-world business plans, each team was sure to add their own personalities and flair to the presentations. One member of Team Legit M&M’s compared their business to on on-line dating service in terms of its match-making objective. Other teams made sure to keep the presentation light by joking around with some of the material. After asking the teams a few questions, the judges deliberated and made their decision. Team Interlink was declared the YITC, Seattle winner! “The win was really unexpected, said Team Interlink member Elliottt Gerguson. “All the teams prepared so well and had really good plans. We were confident going in [to the competition]. But there was a different feeling when we actually got here. I’m excited and really happy [about this win]!” Ferguson along with teammates Donna Oneverthana, Christopher Smith, and Lisa Wu will travel to New York in June to compete for the grand prize. As instructor Gloria Baldino of Microsoft expressed, all the groups were winners. All participants received prize packages including various computer software items and equipment, and a $300 check for their participation. All in all it seemed as if the objectives of the program were met. Minority students were introduced to IT, and were able to develop proficiency in aspects of the technological and entrepreneurial realm. Getting minority youth interested in IT and giving them the tools to continue on in this arena takes a step towards closing the digital divide. Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle President James Kelly echoed this sentiment. “This event helps young people (minorities) realize their entrepreneurial potential. It helps students develop future roles as IT leaders. It has brought together communities, and it is raising consciousness about the digital divide,” said Kelly. “I have to commend this program because instead of giving these students a fish, you taught them how to fish. So Bill Gates, Oprah…look out!”