Darlingford, MB (February 17, 2009) – Devon Holenski, owner of “Devon Holenski” and full time student at University of Manitoba, has been named the 2009 Manitoba Student Entrepreneur Provincial Champion by national charitable organization, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship “ACE” and proud program supporter, CIBC.

Since 2006, Devon, an Agriculture student, has owned and operated “Devon Holenski”, a mixed grain and cattle farm which consists of caring for 8 beef cows and calves and maintaining 240 acres of grain land.

Operating “Devon Holenski” has provided Devon with the opportunity to:

·         Double his profit in one year.

·         Operate his farm based business debt free.

·         Expand from 80 to 240 acres of grain land in the summer of 2008.

·         Sell his entire 2007 crop at peak price before the spring.

“My experiences with the ACE Student Entrepreneur Competition have helped me to realize the potential of my business while also providing me with needed capital to expand” comments Devon. “Presenting my business to a panel of judges will be a great boost to my confidence in both my personal and professional life.  

The regional round of competition will take place at the 2009 ACE Regional Exposition in Calgary, Alberta on February 27, 2009. Provincial Champions will each present their business to a live panel of business professionals who will decide the two Regional Champions, who will each receive a $1,000 cash prize and move on to the final round of competition taking place at the 2009 ACE National Exposition in Toronto on May 6th, 2009. The National Champion will be named and will receive a $10,000 cash prize and represent Canada at the international level of competition, the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, if he or she qualifies.

“Given the changing economy student entrepreneurs are being forced to take on new challenges to ensure their businesses thrive” says Amy Harder, President of ACE. “ACE provides an experience that strengthens and supports student development to create a more sustainable and enterprising Canada.”

For more information about the Student Entrepreneur Competition taking place regionally and nationally in 2009 please visit www.aceexpos.ca.

About ACE
Founded in the mid-1980s, ACE is a national charitable organization that is teaching and igniting young Canadians to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities through enterprise. Working in partnership with business and higher education, ACE operates a team-based program, Students In Free Enterprise “SIFE” and an individual-based program, Student Entrepreneur. Through these two programs, ACE guides students along the path to becoming the champions that will define the enterprising mission of Canada. For more information about ACE, visit www.acecanada.ca.

Operated by ACE and proudly presented by CIBC, the Student Entrepreneur Program is the only National program to focus solely on full time Canadian post secondary student entrepreneurs. It is a program that strives to enrich participant’s lives through feedback, recognition and networking opportunities.

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