Entrepreneur Success: Award and Space

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We’re always so proud of all our young entrepreneurs.  Two of these we’d like to call attention to.

Maia Drugmand received the "7 Everyday Hero Award."

Maia Drugmand received the “7 Everyday Hero Award.”

An everyday hero

Maia Drugmand, who won our 6-11 age category last year at the Celebration for Young Entrepreneurs, was just named a Channel 7 “Everyday Hero” by Mitch Jelniker.  Maia received this award for making a difference in her community.  She has done this by selling her “turtles4tots” to raise money to grant wishes to Make-a-Wish kids.  So far she’s been able to grant four wishes in just over 18 months!

Maia, age 11, makes her turtles out of seashells, then painstakingly paints them with various designs.  She turned them into magnets, necklaces, ornaments and more.  She has even created themed turtles for Christmas and the 4th of July.

Watch Maia’s “7 Everyday Hero Award” segment on Channel 7 during the following times:

  • Sunday, September 8 at 10:00pm
  • Monday, September 9 at 5:00am
  • Thursday, September 12 at 11:00am
  • Saturday, September 14 at 5:00pm
  • Sunday, September 15 at 7:00am

Congratulations Maia!  We can’t wait to watch you!

Getting a new space

Mary is getting unpacked in her new studio.

Mary is getting unpacked in her new studio.

Mary Sorteberg, age 20, has been participating in the Young Americans entrepreneur programs for many years.  She loves creating beautiful works of art, but she also has a passion for turning that art into a way to support herself.  Mary turned her art into greeting cards, custom commissions, and even iPhone cases.  Last summer she started teaching art classes to young people and adults.

The first art class in Mary's new studio.

The first art class in Mary’s new studio.

One of Mary’s big goals was to someday own her own studio.  That day has arrived!  Mary is in the process of moving all her supplies into her new studio space.  She taught her first art class yesterday and will start to display her art for sale.  What a dream come true!

To sign up for one of Mary’s classes, visit http://artclasseswithmary.blogspot.com/

Congratulations Mary!  We can’t wait to visit!

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