The Lakota Nation Invitational recently celebrated its 45th year. The event has grown beyond a basketball tournament to include youth competing in areas such as the Lakota Language, Academic and Knowledge Bowls, as well as the hand game tournament, art show, storytelling, and a business plan competition.
The business plan competition aims to bring awareness of entrepreneurship to high school students in grades 9 to 12. It challenges students to think about creating business opportunities in and around South Dakota. Entries cover important points that entrepreneurial professionals consider: Concept Overview, Products & Services, Market Opportunity, Competitive Advantage, Management Operations, and two years of Cash Flow Projections.
In addition to submitting a written business plan, students developed their public speaking skills with a 15-minute presentation.
Elevate Rapid City sponsored this year’s business plan competition. Samantha McGrath and Reese Niu also helped judge the competitors.
Riley Lunderman from White River High School won the 11th-grade level with her business plan for “Riley’s Basketball Camp.” She started the plan last year but didn’t finish it. “…this year I looked more into it and became even more in love with the idea of making something like that happen so that's kind of why and it’s helped doing this kind of like work towards the goal.”
While at this time she doesn’t have plans to pursue entrepreneurship, the competition still gave her experience that will help her be successful in years to come. “I'm looking into going to be a traveling nurse and get a medical degree by going to nursing school, pre-med.”
Winners received prizes including an iPad with seniors receiving scholarships to continue their education.
9th grade - 1st Place - Jace Hutchinson - White River High School
10th grade - 1st Place - Savannah Krispel - White River High School
11th grade - 1st Place - Riley Lunderman - White River High School
12th grade - 1st Place - Shawn Bordeaux - White River High School
12th grade - 2nd Place - Teresa Graham - Red Cloud High School * $500 scholarship sponsored by Elevate.