Island students were on the path to success after designing, planning and presenting business plans during the annual BizCamp last week.

Twenty-seven students took part in the first week of BizCamp where they attended workshops and classes with key local and overseas professionals.

Seven students designed and presented their business plans to a panel of judges last Friday and Acting Telecommunications and E-commerce Minister Neletha Butterfield gave a visual software program to them.

"These kids were great, like all Bermudian kids they have great ideas and are all very entrepreneurial," said Joe Mahoney, director of Boston's Institute for Youth Enterprise and the BizCamp coordinator. The Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative of Bermuda works with the Ministry of Tourism, Telecommunications and E-commerce and are the organisers of the BizCamps now in its third year of operation.

Jacqueline Mayer's dance business plan `Five Six Seven Eight' was awarded first place by the panel. The dance enthusiast described how her studio would be up against five major competitors on the Island but that hers would be different because it would accommodate all dance styles.

"This was a great experience in business topics and a great way to learn more about business that I didn't know before," Ms Mayer said after her plan won first place.

Having started a computer school 20 years ago, Ms Butterfield was proud of all the students who attended the camp.

"Some of these students here today went to my computer school and I'm glad to have planted the seeds for you to continue with this and that the technology has allowed you to open so many doors."

Second place winner Erika Suber's business plan, `Simply Elegant Fashions' provided prom, graduation and wedding dresses and won high praise from Ms Butterfield.

"If that Prince Charming comes along for me I can call you."

Olivia Riley's `Eye Candy Design', an interior design business for the design tastes of eight- to 18-year-olds and Michelle Spencer's `We Dream Nursery', both tied for third place.

Speakers and presenters included Marisa Hall, programme director for Bermuda Technology Education Collaborative, Elizabeth Tee from Troncossi Public Relations, Michiko Rouja and Jean-Pierre Rouja the director and managing director of Look Bermuda, Juan Prado the founder of Promisant and April Critchlow from the Bank of Bermuda. The second week of BizCamp began on Monday.