Brownstown Central High School senior Katie Rohlfing was the first to present her business plan during Saturday’s Maverick Challenge regional competition.

Conducted in Seymour for the first time, winners from six county competitions competed for the title by giving presentations in the Holiday Inn Express conference center.

First place received $1,500, second place earned $1,000 and honorable mention got $250.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery

While Rohlfing didn’t place in the top three, she and her business teacher, Robin Perry, considered it a good experience.

Rohlfing had received $3,000 for winning the eighth annual Jackson County Maverick Challenge on Jan. 16 at the Community Foundation of Jackson County in Seymour.

Brownstown students took the top three places, earning a total of $6,000. Three other projects by Brownstown students received honorable mention and earned $100 apiece.

Rohlfing’s presentation was on The Blue Rose Project, a nonprofit mobile organization that provides free day camps and workshops to girls in grades 5 through 10. The goal is to improve the self-esteem, self-image and self-worth in the girls.

The workshops would be on Saturdays during the school year, and the day camps would be for five days in the summer.

Rohlfing said she is applying for sponsorships and grants and hopes to begin offering the workshops and camps this year or in 2020.

The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce started the Maverick Challenge in 2008. High school students from 12 area counties are invited to participate.

The Jackson County competition is a joint partnership between the Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. Workforce Partnership, Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce and Brownstown Chamber of Commerce.

Since 2012, Brownstown students have won $43,450 in cash for their efforts in the Maverick Challenge.