The Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative of Bermuda presented the 2006 BizTech BizCamp graduation of 38 business minded young students.

After spending a gruelling 45-hour week at Bermuda College, composing business plans for businesses they might like to launch in the future, the youngsters were rewarded with a certificate, a business for kids textbook and a BizTech bag.

The co-ordinator of the programme is Joe Mahoney.

The graduation took place at the XL Foundation last Tuesday, where most of the students came to accept their awards along with family and friends.

Minister of Telecommunications and E-Commerce Michael J. Scott congratulated the students for a job well done.

?Without question BizCamp is one of my most important public appearances. This is the most quintessential example of young ones at work,? he said. The business plans included everything from hair designs, repair shops, computer companies and clothing stores.

A winner for the best plan was chosen from both weeks ? Brent Guntl for TechMan and Chei-Lei Trott for Keila?ni. Second place for week one was Dwayne Hassell?s Premier Printing Graphics and third place was Desiree Riley?s Dezzy?s Hair Designs.

For week two, Ryce Trott?s Coconuts Cafe came second and Rondricka Butterfield?s Drika?s Party Planning and Designs placed third.

First place received a cell phone from Cellular One, second place a web cam and third place a flash drive.

The sponsors for the event include Catlin, RenaissanceRe, XL Foundation, PartnerRe, the Ministry of Telecommunications and E-Commerce and the Bank of Bermuda Foundation.