Winners announced for Patton Entrepreneurship Grant Competition at APSU

by Elaina Russell

Clarksville, TN (10/23/2023) — By Elaina Russell - Communications Director, APSU College of Business

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University and the Spencer Patton Foundation have announced the inaugural Patton Entrepreneurship Grant (PEG) Competition winners. The event showcased a remarkable display of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, with five students and one team competing for the top prizes.

The top three finishers were:

First - $5,000, MJ Bearden for Inclusify Me, a platform dedicated to supporting the disabled community by providing training, resources and tools for organizations to create more equitable environments while promoting greater awareness and acceptance.

Second - $2,500, Lillian Dawson for Home Front Culinary Connections, a kitchen incubator providing home-based culinary professionals with a commercial workspace to expand their businesses. The idea included additional elements tying the space with farmer's markets, cooking classes and food safety training.

Third - $1,000, Zaniyah Williams and Saniyah Richards for Luxe Beauty Supply & Salon, a venture offering a comprehensive solution for high-quality beauty supplies and services. Their goal is to expand accessibility to the community through their beauty truck, scheduled pick-ups and delivery services available 24 hours a day.

The competition celebrates innovation and creativity, exemplifying the shared commitment between Austin Peay and the Spencer Patton Foundation to nurture and support young entrepreneurs. All participants in this year's competition are a testament to the outstanding talent and innovative spirit that the University aims to foster as part of the student experience.

For more information about the competition, visit spencerpattonfoundation.org/apsu.

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