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Student Profile -
Crystal Ramos |
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Click on any image to see a larger version of the image. |
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On the private Jet ready to fly to NYC
Crystal's Boutique |
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Look out, New
York City! Here comes 15-year-old Crystal Ramos, 2004 Young
Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner! She was named a 2004
Entrepreneur of the Year award winner by the National Foundation for
Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) for her concept and operation of a
floral arrangement business.
Crystal joined
the E CITY staff in New York to receive
her award at NFTE’s 11th Annual Salute to the
Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards Dinner on April 28, 2004 in New York
City. In addition to the all-expense-paid trip to New York and the
chance to display her business products there, Crystal received a cash |
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Receiving the NFTE
Award |
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prize of $1500 to apply either to her business or to future college
expenses. Crystal was allowed
to bring a guest with her and there is no doubt in her mind that
it should be her grandma, who was the inspiration for her artificial
floral arrangement business |
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Crystal, who this fall will be a junior at SuccessTech Academy in the
Cleveland Municipal School District,
attended the two-week
intensive summer “BizCamp” offered by E CITY at Cuyahoga Community
College in July 2003. Under the guidance of teacher Katerina Zacharia
and volunteer coaches, Crystal formulated a business plan which was
awarded the first place prize in the culminating business plan
competition. She has been a participant in E CITY’s weekend
Masters Class, and currently is a member of the Real Word group who
will be starting a student store named S.O.S. at SuccessTech. |
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Crystal with Anana |
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I wanted to be rebellious and go outside my comfort zone and take the
E CITY class,” says Crystal. “All the kids in the class wished it
would go on longer. I had the chance to meet others and learn about
their ideas and expand my social life. It gets you pumped up! I know
how to do it!!” Crystal says. |
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Crystal and Ana with the
E CITY
staff |
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Encouraged by
that recognition and buoyed by early proceeds from her business
start-up, Crystal entered NFTE’s Young Entrepreneur competition,
working long hours outside of school to complete the application
process on time. Her business concept was judged on its creativity
and ability to generate revenue, and she had to demonstrate ways that
her business would contribute to her community’s well-being. “I was
so shocked when Mr. Z called me at school to tell me I won!”
Crystal said. “Please say thank
you to everyone for the help they gave me!” |
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Crystal's check from
NFTE |
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“Crystal showed unusual tenacity during both the E CITY program and
the NFTE award application period,” says E CITY founder, John Zitzner.
“She had a business conceived and operating before our class was
complete! Crystal is a living demonstration of our theory that kids
with street smarts and an achievement mentality have some traits that
are common to entrepreneurs. With guidance, they can channel those
traits into viable business ideas and eventually help to restore the
economy in our community,” Zitzner adds.
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