1st Annual Siskiyou Future Fest is a Great Success

Your Imagination Is Your Only Limitation

The first annual Siskiyou Future Fest (young entrepreneurs) contest was held on May 6th. Hosted by Siskiyou Works Entrepreneurship Collaborative the event featured more than a dozen Mt. Shasta High and Weed High School students competing for significant prize moneys.

Mt. Shasta High School business math instructor Ben Stern and Weed High School business instructor Joshua Oates prepared students to participate and helped to coordinate the event.

The night’s lineup of scheduled competitors included:

• Toni Jauregui- Fine Art Rentals

• Cali Grayson and Peyton Belcastro – Sea Cleaner

• Betty Cotto and Cali Jewell – Snow Shovel

• Audrey Mayberry and Marianne Tafoya – Bitz

• Camilla Merkle and Natalia Torres – Basket Boutique

• Mathew Mayberry – SkillShaper

• Boden Birch – Reply Xperts

• Wiley Carver – Func

• Jalen Smith and Kaikea Ferguson – Sonar Glasse

• Jackie Beltran – Make It

• Rhett Zanni – Metal Stamper

• Maci Phillips

• Nathina Chattin – To Put It Simply

• Khampon Ngouyaphanh

• Mason Doran-Girard – Cali Pritchard – Pet Care

• Adrian – Sushi Go

• Julia Haugen – SoapSational

• Bryson Obst – Carbage Can

Despite some last minute changes to the competitors list and some minor technical hiccups the evening was a tremendous success.

Our assembled panel of prestigious judges put the competitors through their paces, carefully evaluating each presentation and giving invaluable feedback. The panel included:

• Dan Haskins – Director of Career Services at COS

• Eva Shepard- Executive Director Chico Start @ Chico State

• Sherice L. Bellamy- Business Professor COS

• Nancy Swift- Parent

• Meski Chandler-Student

• Tessa Clure- Former Mayor

Each team was evaluated on their ability to describe their product or service and its unique selling proposition, state the initial investment costs, identify the target demographic, and communicate their market opportunity.

All the presentations were wonderful, but when the smoke cleared the winners were announced and ChicoStart Executive Director Eva Shepherd awarded the prizes.

FIRST PLACE: Audrey Mayberry and Marianne Tafoya with Bitz

SECOND PLACE: Wiley Carver with Func

THIRD PLACE: Matthew Mayberry with SkillSharper

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Nathina Chattin with To Put It Simply

We would like to give our deepest thanks to the sponsors of the Future Fest: Jedi, Chico Start, College of the Siskiyous, IHU2 and Siskiyou Works.

Here’s looking forward to next years group of young entrepreneurs and their ideas to change our futures.