THE SMITH CENTER

for Private Enterprise Studies

High School Essay & Business Plan Contests

Public and private high school juniors and seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area, East Bay, and South Bay are invited to enter the business plan and/or essay contests.
Three finalists, for each contest, receive cash awards: $1,000 for first place; $500 for second place; and $250 for third place.

Essay Topic 2008: "The Federal Government's Economic Stimulus Package: Sound Policy or Political Grandstanding?"

Download the essay contest form in PDF format here.

If you need help getting started, you can:
1) read some of the past winning essays.

Basis of Judging
Each essay will be judged on the basis of the clarity, persuasiveness, and logic of the argument the author makes. Grammar, spelling, sentence structure, and punctuation will also be weighed in the judges decision.

Guidelines
Maximum length is 1,500 words. Essays must be typed and double spaced with endnotes. Each essay must be submitted with an entry form.

Judges & Awards
A panel of economists from California State University, East Bay will judge the entries. Winners will be notified on or before June 13, 2008.

Business Plan Contest for High School Students

Download the business plan contest form in PDF format here.

If you need help getting started, you can:
1) read some of the past business plans

What is a business plan?
A business plan is a roadmap to getting a business started. It comes in many shapes and sizes, but generally has the following main parts: table of contents, executive summary, and the body.

The body usually addresses the following:
description of the business, goals and objectives of the business, legal structure of the business, products/services/markets, government regulations, management team, financials, risks, and, competition.

You can work in groups or alone.

You absolutely CANNOT use a computer program to write the business plan for you. If you do you will be disqualified.

Judges & Awards
A panel of economists from California State University, East Bay will judge the entries. Winners will be notified on or before June 13, 2008.

DEADLINE FOR BOTH CONTESTS: Friday, May 9, 2008 at 5:00PM
Anything submitted after the deadline WILL BE disqualified!

Please contact Casey Bell-Blasdale for more information.