A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Lt. Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge gives two teams from Kenton County ‘golden tickets’ to finals


Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton attended the region four competition of the Lt. Gov.’s Entrepreneurship Challenge (LGEC) at Berea to welcome teams from across Kentucky and present awards to the winners.

Both teams came from the Kenton County Academies of Innovation and Technology. They school swept the Regionals of the LGEC and was the only school to have two teams in the state finals.

The first team announced as a winner, Net Patcher, was from the Robotics and Structural Engineering Academies. It is made up of Brady Hollingsworth, Noah Lykins, Ethan Manning and Jacob Vallandingham.

The second team announced as a winner, Go! Energy LLC., was from the Green Engineering Academy and included students Shelby Martin, Gage Dyrstad and Abby Ratcliff.

Lt. Gov. Hampton and the “Net Patcher’ team with golden tickets to the finals.

Each academy is made up of three teachers.  The Robotics and Structual Engineering Academies is made up of Adam Klaine, Alyssa Leimenstoll, and Ian Olano.  The Green Engineer Academy is made up of Jacinda Santee, Casey Wolfe, and Kristen McKinley.

After arriving from another LGEC regional competition, Lt. Gov. Hampton watched many students pitch their business ideas and awarded each team member from Net Patcher and Go! Energy LLC. with golden tickets, which secure their seat to compete at the state level against eight other LGEC finalist teams.

“I applaud all of today’s participants on their hard work and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship,” said Hampton. “I’m very excited for the teams advancing to the LGEC Finals and the communities they will be representing.”

At the LGEC Finals, scheduled for April 29 at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics in Lexington, the 10 finalist teams will compete for $80,000 in scholarships.

The top three teams will split the scholarship funding, which can be used at any post-secondary institution in Kentucky (e.g., four-year college, software bootcamp).

For more information on the LGEC Finals on April 29 visit www.kylgec.com/finals


Related Posts

Leave a Comment