Business Smarts Earns Two Lincoln Students Entrepreneurs of the Year Award

Lincoln High School Academy of Finance seniors Maurine Koranteng and Neville Green created a prototype comprehensive business plan, Especially Yours, a company to help low income individuals develop custom resumes at minimal cost, giving their clients a professional edge in the job market. Their plan was so outstanding that Maurine and Neville are 2 of only 38 students in the world to be selected as 2008 Global Young Entrepreneurs of the Year, sponsored by The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE).

Especially Yours focuses on Maurine and Neville’s hometown of Yonkers, offering professional résumé preparation services at affordable prices. Their prototype business plan seeks to open the door to employment opportunities for low income individuals. A unique feature of the plan is that it incorporates a philanthropic goal: Ten percent of profits go to the Hudson Valley Make a Wish Foundation.

Maurine and Neville competed with students from high schools in Westchester County, New York City, and Fairfield County, Connecticut, and received the only award for this region. In preparing their plan and competition entry, students worked under the advisement of Lincoln High Academy of Finance Coordinator, Lauren Trager.