"LAUNCH" participates graduate from the program

It's an evening of celebration for a group of local high schoolers, taking their business plans to the next level. Thursday night, students participating in "Launch", graduated from the program.

Serving high schoolers and adults in undeserved communities, Launch aims to empower people through entrepreneurship. Professionals lend their expertice in business, marketing, and legal process.  The program is offered at three area schools; Brainerd, Howard and Tyner High Schools, but with more help, more lives could be impacted.

John Owen, Launch board member, "We've started 70, I guess, over 40 businesses and over 70 employees in just a couple of years of getting going. We could move forward and do more with the underserved communities with their help."

While graduating is an accomplishment in itself, they all have another short term goal, to take home the 10-thousand dollar grand prize at UTC's High School Entrepreneurship competition in December. The prize money will be used as a start up cash to "launch" their business.

Full story originally posted on WRCBtv.com.