Home » Lt. Governor Hampton’s Entrepreneurship Challenge moves to Northern Kentucky University

Lt. Governor Hampton’s Entrepreneurship Challenge moves to Northern Kentucky University

Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton

FRANKFORT, Ky. —Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton announces that Northern Kentucky University will be the new permanent home for the Lieutenant Governor’s Entrepreneurship Challenge (LGEC), a statewide contest she created in 2016 to encourage Kentucky high school students to explore innovative business ideas. Managed by Lt. Governor Hampton and her staff, with assistance from the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, the annual contest has awarded nearly $250,000 total for in-state scholarships.

“I wanted to find an innovative group that will expand and improve the LGEC, since my successor is not obligated to do so,” Lt. Governor Hampton said.  “There was great interest from other universities, however, I was attracted to NKU’s passion and robust entrepreneurial resources that include a regional high school program. I was also impressed by their readiness to help train LGEC team coaches and teachers. In addition, NKU did a phenomenal job hosting the 2019 LGEC finals in April.”

Under NKU’s direction, the LGEC will continue its statewide focus on all Kentucky high school students. For the LGEC regional heats, NKU is expected to continue working with Kentucky’s academic network as Lt. Governor Hampton did.

Interim Co-Director, Jeff Varrone said, “The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship housed in the Haile/US Bank College of Business at Northern Kentucky University is excited to continue to be the epicenter for the entrepreneurial education for the State of Kentucky, by offering programs that support and encourage high schoolers across Kentucky.”

Details of the upcoming contest will be forthcoming after a transition period.

Scholarship funds for 2017, 2018 and 2019 winners of the LGEC will continue to be disbursed by the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, a private non-profit corporation.