2020 Maverick Challenge Results
Oldenburg, IN – The Maverick Challenge, a business planning competition, was hosted at Oldenburg Academy on December 11, 2020. Community judges adjudicated 17 students based on the business plans and products they created for the competition. Oldenburg Academy and Jac-Cen-Del both participated in the program from Ripley and Franklin County. Oldenburg Academy had seven teams participate and Jac-Cen-Del had one team.
The Maverick Challenge was started in 2008 by the Columbus Indiana Chamber of Commerce and has been a growing program since. The competition is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors, successful entrepreneurs and community leaders. Oldenburg Academy Assistant Principal Jonathon Maple is the head of the Franklin/Ripley County competition and leads the challenge at the school. Jonathon stated, “We are thrilled to participate in the Maverick Challenge. This is a real-world learning experience that provides students with many skills beyond the business plan. Additionally, we loved having Jac-Cen-Del on board and are hopeful that more schools will join in the future.” Students had the opportunity to work with business and community mentors as well as experience feedback from professional judges.
Winners of the 2020 Maverick Challenge received cash prizes. Third place winner, which received $100.00, was Traxi, an automated trash can device that takes your trash can down to the end of the driveway – Wil Freeland, Jon Grieshop and Riley Schebler were the three inventors. Second place winner, receiving $200.00, was SK Feedmixer, an easy portable device that mixes an animal’s feed. It was started by Ethan Kawaguchi and Sarah Schuman. The first-place winner received $300.00 and went to Gutter Butler, a device that is installed on gutters to provide clean water to your cistern. This was presented by Lana Lishkge and Maddie Hoog. The top team will move on to the Spring Maverick Challenge Regional Competition where nine counties will compete against each other, hosted by Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce.
Genesis Pathways To Success out of Ripley County, Franklin County Community Foundation, Oldenburg Academy and the Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce all sponsor the challenge. “We truly cannot have this competition without their support and assistance, and we are so grateful to live and work in such a supportive community,” Maple commented.