HAGERSTOWN, MD (March 20, 2017) – Williamsport High School junior Austin Swiger was awarded first place in the 2017 Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) Aspiring Entrepreneurs Competition. The event was a cooperative presentation by WCPS and the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. Mark Harrell of CNB Bank, Greg Mills from High Rock Holdings and Penny Pittman from Blue Goose Market and Bakery served as judges for finalists’ presentations at Leitersburg Cinemas. Participants were asked to justify the need for the business, invention or service they created and identify target customers and market. The students were also judged on marketing strategies, fulfillment of customers’ needs, business model and identification of challenges and barriers that would need to be overcome. The judges were also given the opportunity to question the students about their proposed business.

Austin Swiger earned first place for his business, “Student Style,” which was established to, “help young men excel.” First place honors included $1,500. Bethany Wallace, a Boonsboro High School senior, was recognized for second place for her company, “Riftern and Wallace,” maker of smart watches. The second place honor included $1,000. Also from Boonsboro High, sophomore Seth Hutchinson earned third place and $500 for “Foam Flingers,” a company that creates mobile foam battle zones.

Michael Boyd, workforce development and program manager at Hagerstown Community College, served as emcee.