Alejandra Garcia, a 17-year-old senior at Duncan Polytechnical High School in Fresno, and her business Valentin Dresses, are in the running for Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship’s (NFTE) third annual national Online Elevator Pitch Challenge.

Fresno State’s Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosts NFTE in the central San Joaquin Valley.

On Thursday, Oct. 11, Alejandra competes in New York against 33 other students from across the United States for a $25,000 prize and a $5,000 Coleman Entrepreneurial Scholarship. She was the top student among five in sixth annual NFTE Central Valley Business Plan Competition in spring, winning $500 and the trip to New York to compete at the national level.

Each student among the 33 finalists also submitted a 60 second video for the 2012 Elevator Pitch Challenge, which has a $2,500 top prize and numerous other prizes at stake.

In her video, Alejandra overhears a customer’s frustration with finding a formal dress and discusses the inspiration for Valentin Dresses, which is a custom dress-making business serving the central San Joaquin Valley. Watch the video.

Alejandra participates in the NFTE program through which students and young entrepreneurs learn business concepts and develop business plans for their own enterprises.

Casey Lamonski, educational outreach program coordinator for the Lyles Center said of Alejandra’s success, “In her time at the Lyles Center and in the NFTE program, Alejandra has excelled. She understands what her customers are looking for and provides a quality product. Her success exemplifies how good her business is.”

For questions, contact Lamonski at clamonski@csufresno.edu or 559.917.7971.

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