LEAWOOD, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anne Marie Schudy of Springfield, Mo., Austin Barone of Lawrence, Kan. and Olivia DeSmit of Columbia, Mo. are the 2014 recipients of the annual Tortoise Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship Awards. The scholarships are designed to give deserving students a head start in their academic endeavors and encourage an entrepreneurial mindset that helps recipients conceive or support firms that create innovative products, processes and solutions.
“These bright young adults have clearly demonstrated the initiative, creativity, tenacity and dedication that are the essential traits of successful entrepreneurs,” said Tortoise Capital Advisors’ Senior Managing Director, Kevin Birzer. “As an entrepreneurial organization, we applaud their success and are delighted to support their passion for innovation and leadership.”
Anne Marie Schudy
Anne Marie Schudy is a freshman at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. studying arts administration. As a high school junior, aspiring entrepreneur Anne Marie launched Afternoon Coffee, a handmade jewelry online marketplace. The jewelry wasn’t selling well, so Anne Marie applied her artistic and computer skills to create trendy coffee mugs, greeting cards and wall art. To date, Anne Marie has enjoyed more than 1,000 sales. Anne Marie served as secretary of the Young Artists piano organization her high school senior year and as reporter and editor-in-chief of her high school’s newspaper. She also served as co-leader and graphic designer for Girls 4 Good service group. She has received several journalism awards from Missouri Southern University's language arts department fair and Southern Media Showcase.
Austin Barone
Austin Barone, a junior studying accounting and finance at the University of Kansas (KU), is a self-assertive and focused entrepreneur. He recently founded Just Play Sports Solutions, L.L.C., partnering with Andy Wachter, senior web developer at Sony Pictures Television. They have generated a playbook application designed to save coaches and players time, enabling them to work efficiently and effectively and focus on individual athletic development. The solution is initially focused on the sport of football and is currently being used at the high school and Division One college level. A student-athlete and leader for his football team, Austin is enrolled in KU’s Business Honors. He is also president of KU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and participated in KU’s School of Business/School of Engineering Leadership and the Price Waterhouse Cooper Elevate leadership programs. He serves on the NCPA Executive Players Council to monitor college athletics issues and raise awareness of the need for NCAA reform.
Olivia DeSmit
Olivia DeSmit, a freshman at the University of Missouri (MU), plans to become a food animal veterinarian. Olivia, raised on a farm and home-schooled, applied her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for animals, dairy goats in particular, to create a home-based business on her family farm. Since the age of 12, Olivia has cared for dairy goats, and made and marketed products from their milk. These products include soaps, cheeses, ice cream and lip balms, all of which are all-natural, non-chemically based and environmentally friendly. Olivia is also co-founder of an eMagazine, Inspired, which serves as a forum to share ideas, spark creativity and promote and foster innovation. A member of Future Farmers of America, Olivia also volunteers regularly at a local nursing home and in 2014 volunteered at a local handicapped riding facility.
About Tortoise Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship Program
The Tortoise Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship Program was established in 2012 in celebration of Tortoise Capital Advisors’ 10-year anniversary. The program recognizes the challenges and rewards of the entrepreneurial spirit and encourages the next generation of curious, persistent and passionate entrepreneurs. The Tortoise Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship Program awards three annual, non-renewable scholarships valued at $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000. Applicants must (i) be a resident of Kansas or Missouri (Tortoise Capital Advisors’ headquarters borders these two states) who attends or plans to attend a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree, or (ii) be a full-time student seeking a bachelor’s program at a Kansas or Missouri accredited university or college. All applicants must also meet certain academic and college entrance exam scores.
About Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C.
Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C. is an investment manager specializing in listed energy investments. As of June 30, 2014, the adviser had approximately $18.6 billion of assets under management in NYSE-listed closed-end funds companies, open-end funds and other accounts. For more information, visit www.tortoiseadvisors.com.