FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2019
MEDIA: Scott Pedowitz
Government Affairs Manager
(703) 525-2400 x205
ARLINGTON YEA! STUDENT COMPETES IN NATIONAL COMPETITION 
High school sophomore Andrew Green competed as semi-finalist in Saunders Scholars Competition, representing Arlington County and Arlington Career Center.
ARLINGTON, Va. - After successfully pitching his idea to a panel of local investors at the Arlington Chamber's YEA! Investor Panel event in April, Andrew Green was selected as a semi-finalist to advance to the  Saunders Scholarship Competition. On Friday, May 3, Green took the stage at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to once again, pitch his business plans to a panel of investors and public audience. Green, founder and CEO of Flamewake Guitars, which he launched while participating in the Arlington Chamber of Commerce's YEA! program, confidently shared the origin of his company and his vision to make and sell new quality peripherals for people playing video games. 

The 11th Annual YEA! Saunders Scholars Competition was streamed live around to world and viewed in 23 countries. People from the United States, India, and China, virtually watched students ages 11 to 18 give the pitch of their young lives to compete for college scholarship, a trip to Washington D.C. to attend the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2019 Small Business Summit, and to be crowned America's Next Top Young Entrepreneur.

Andrew Green at the Saunders Scholarship Competition at RIT.
Although Green was not selected as a finalist in the national competition, he gained great exposure for himself and his business, made new friendships, and experiences that he will carry with him for a lifetime. The Arlington Chamber of Commerce is incredibly proud of Green for being one of 50 semi-finalists to advance to the national competition, representing all of the talented students of Arlington County and the Arlington Career Center.

"There were a lot of highly motivated and smart people at the competition that were truly invested in what they were doing and it was great to see." says Green, when sharing about his experience. "I never expected to see so many people near my age striving to start new trends and better the world through their businesses. One of my favorite things about the competition was the surge of support from everyone around me. From my mentor, Ms. Jennifer, to the community I'd built up, the students at school; the amount of support I received was incredible, and it pushed me to try my hardest at the competition and to continue to work hard growing my business."

Green will continue to focus on growing his business, Flamewake Guitars, with the tools he learned through the YEA! program and the confidence he gained through competing at the national level. 

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ARLINGTON CHAMBER'S YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY (YEA!)
The Arlington Chamber's Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is program that transforms high school students from Arlington Public Schools Career Center into entrepreneurs. Throughout the semester, students work closely with local business leaders, community leaders, and educators who use their personal experience to demonstrate how to develop business ideas and objectives, write a business plan, pitch to investors for start-up funds, register with governmental agencies, establish e-commerce and a web presence, and more. By the end of the curriculum, students own and operate fully-formed businesses, which may be continued after graduation from the program. 

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy national program was founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester, with support from the Kauffman Foundation. Today, the program serves thousands of students in communities across America. 

ABOUT THE CHAMBER   Follow us on Twitter  View our profile on LinkedIn  Like us on Facebook  View on Instagram  Visit our blog    
Founded in 1924, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit membership organization of more than 750 businesses committed to strengthening businesses and the economic environment for those who work, live, and do business in Arlington. The Chamber supports our members through networking, advocacy, professional development, and community engagement. For more information or to become a member, visit  www.arlingtonchamber.org.