RICHMOND, Ind. — Several area high school students involved in the Indiana University East Advancing Entrepreneurship Business Opportunities for Self Starters (BOSS) program participated in the regional competition Tuesday, June 24. The competition was held at the Richmond Civic Arts Center.

Students presented their business plans in the competition. The top three finishers were:

• First Place: Brandon Brookbank and Christopher Kolger of Wayne County. The business is for KV International Investments Inc.

• Second Place: Kathleen Weiland of Henry County. The business is My Design Art studio.

• Third Place: Audrey Alice Kubesch, Jenna Graham and Jessica Schaffner of Wayne County. The business is AMP.

BOSS began in June 2007 with 111 high school students. Through the success of the program, teachers in seven counties have incorporated the curriculum in to their classrooms.

Recently, the Center for Entrepreneurship at Indiana University East conducted learning courses for Richmond High School students and teachers June 9 to June 20. Tim Scales, director for the Center for Entrepreneurship, said 40 high school students visited campus June 9 to June 20 and participated in the BOSS program. In addition, 25 teachers from the region and East Chicago took graduate level courses on entrepreneurship June 9 to June 13. Teachers learned the fundamentals of economics and entrepreneurship and received the curriculum in order to teach their students the effects entrepreneurship can have on the economy, Scales said.

“In the past year we have had nearly 300 students complete this program. This is an exciting time for me as high school students have the opportunities to recognize the importance of their work and the effect they can have on the impact of our economy through entrepreneurship,” Scales said.

The high school students were taught by Richmond High School teachers Linda Isom and Terry Runnels. While involved in the program, students learn through an entrepreneurial curriculum developed by Scales, David Frantz, dean of the School of Business and associate professor of management, and Marilyn Watkins, dean of the School of Education and professor.