Hampden Business Association
Essay Competition 2008
Be an Entrepreneur!

$1,000 in prize money will be awarded for the best essays on entrepreneurship
by any Hampden Academy student, grades 9 - 12.

 

Students:

Entrepreneurs play a vital role in Hampden's economy as well as the economy of Maine.  Here is your chance to demonstrate your own entrepreneurial spirit!  Please consider the businesses currently located in Hampden, and design a new business that you think would succeed here.

 

Please address these concepts in your essay:

• Strategic Vision
  
  • What is the overall purpose of your business?
  • What are the long-term goals for your business?
    
•  Marketing Your Business
  
  • How will you advertise?
  • Who is your target market?
  • Who will your competition be and how will you set your business apart?
• Location & Facilities
  
  • Where would you physically locate your business?
  • What types of building and/or major equipment would you need to operate?
• Management
  
  • Who will be in charge of this business and/or the employees?
  • How will the business be staffed?
• Financial
  
  • What types of investments and costs will you need to plan for?
  • How will your business generate profits?
  • How will you prepare for losses?

Essay Competition Guidelines:

1.  Hampden Academy students are eligible to enter; grades 9 - 12.
2. The essay must be an original work by the entrant, typed, double-spaced, and 600-800 words.  All sources cited must be properly documented in endnotes or footnotes.
3. Essay must be accompanied by a coversheet with the entrant's name, mailing address, phone number, and grade.  No identifying information about the author should appear on the essay itself.
4. The criteria for judging the essays are:  originality, viability, adherence to the competition topic, proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
5. Awards of up to $500 each will be made by final decision of the judges; a total of $1,000 is available.
6. The first ten qualified entrants will receive a coupon for a ten-inch one-item pizza at Pizza Gourmet.

Essay Deadline:  April 15, 2008

 

Essays must be postmarked, hand-delivered, or e-mailed on or before April 15, 2008 to:

 

Perry O. Speaker, President - perry.speaker@tdstelecom.com

Hampden Business Association

P.O. Box 155

Hampden, ME 04444

Questions?  Please call Mr. Speaker at (207) 862-9225