A senior from Wirt County High School wants to combine art with occupational therapy. That unique business idea helped Liz Adams win a $10,000 college scholarship in the second annual West Virginia Statewide High School Business Plan Competition on March 21.

“I want to put art and occupational therapy together,” Adams said. And her plan to provide the highest quality of artwork is as distinctive as combining it with occupational therapy.

“After high school, I plan on pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy with a minor in Art. My business plan is named LOCAL, an innovative business concept that will give high school students the opportunity to sell their unique handmade products at venues in their own communities,” said Adams. “I want to use that art and occupational therapy to help further therapy and better help patients throughout West Virginia and around the world.”

Adams won a $10,000 scholarship to one of nine participating colleges and universities in West Virginia. She was chosen as the top entrant in the state from a field of competitors that included 36 schools. The West Virginia Statewide High School Business Plan Competition is hosted by the BrickStreet Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, located in the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics (B&E).

Adams is state vice president of the West Virginia Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society president and active in her high school’s basketball, volleyball and track teams.

Among the finalist teams were from Washington High School, Jefferson County; Shady Spring High School, Raleigh County; Bluefield High School, Mercer County; Herbert Hoover High School, Kanawha County; Morgantown High School, Monongalia County; John Marshall High School, Marshall County; Mingo Central Comprehensive High School, Mingo County; and Wirt County High School, Wirt County. The finals competition was held March 21 on the campus of WVU.

Adams has not yet decided where she will attend college. Schools participating by offering $10,000 scholarships include Bethany College, Concord University, Fairmont State University, Glenville State College, Shepherd University, University of Charleston, West Liberty University, West Virginia University and West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

The competition is made possible through funding from the BrickStreet Insurance Foundation and a grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. Additional support is provided by Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) and the West Virginia Department of Education.

For further information on the WVU College of Business and Economics, please visit be.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

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CONTACT: Patrick Gregg, WVU College of Business and Economics
patrick.gregg@mail.wvu.edu; 304.293.5131

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