Plus an opportunity to attend AHBAI's second Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference featuring key executives from multi-million dollar African-American owned hair care corporations.

AHBAI Members award Kathryn Harris, 1st Place Scholarship Winner, with a check for $5,000.

  • Contest
  • Keynote Speaker

    Contest Prizes
    Phase I

    Two students from each of the 117 traditionally Black colleges and universities will win a registration to the American Health and Beauty Aids Institute's (AHBAI) Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference, November 6-8, 1996 at Dudley Products, Inc. corporate headquarters, Kernersville, N.C. (near Greensboro). This registration will include:

    • Participation in two and one half days of leadership workshops with key executives from AHBAI member companies.
    • Complimentary deluxe accommodations at Dudley's DCU Inn for two nights.
    • $100 scholarship (can be used for travel).

    In the judging process, judges will select three (3) winners from each school. The first and second place winners will attend the conference. The third place winner will be an alternate in case the other winners cannot attend.

    Phase II

    During the conference, students will have the opportunity to qualify for additional scholarships based on their leadership skills and participation at the conference. A total of 11 winners will be selected and receive scholarship prizes from $500 to $5,000.(see box).
    You must be present to win.

    Scholarships

    • One (1) Grand Prize: $5,000
    • One (1) 2nd Place Prize: $2,500
    • Three (3) 3rd Place Prizes: $1,000
    • Six (6) 4th Place Prizes: $500
    • 234 Cash Prizes for Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference: $100
    • Over $30,000 in Scholarships Awarded
    Joe Dudley Sr., AHBAI Chairman and President of Dudley Products, Inc., gives the keynote address at the 1995 Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference.

    Requirements

    • Essay must be typewritten, double-spaced and at least three (3) pages, but not more than five (5) pages on 8 1/2" x 11" typing paper.
    • Students must be an undergraduate student from a traditionally Black college in the United States.
    • Essay must address three of the issues below, including one that focuses on the Proud Lady and/or AHBAI members:

      1. Focus on supporting Black businesses in the community
      2. What it means to have strong women entrepreneurs in the community.
      3. What role students play in terms of being entrepreneurs in the community.
      4. The impact of the Proud Lady on the community.
      5. Share information on the positive role models AHBAI members are in the community.
      6. Share ideas of a new business that you would own and operate to benefit the community.
      7. Profile a positive African-American Entrepreneur in your community and their impact.
    Dr. Austin Curtis (second from right), President of A.W. Curtis Laboratories, talks to a group of college students at the 1995 AHBAI Enterpreneurial Leadership Conference.

    The following information must accompany essay on a separate cover sheet:

    1. Name, home and school address, and telephone number
    2. College currently attending
    3. Major area of study
    4. Organization affiliations
    5. Copy of current transcript and GPA
    6. Photograph of student
    7. Resume/Employment summary

    Entries should be sent to:
    AHBAI Headquarters
    401 North Michigan Avenue
    Chicago, IL 60611

    Entries must be received no later than September 25, 1996.
    Winners will be notified by October 12, 1996. Contest void where prohibited.
    For further information, contact AHBAI Headquarters, 312/644-6610.


    Essence President and Co-Founder Clarence Smith Featured as Keynote Speaker

    The AHBAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference will feature Essence Communications, Inc. President and Co-founder Clarence Smith as the keynote speaker.

    Smith became interested in contributing to the social and economic rise of Black people in 1969 when he was a registered representative with New York's Investors Planning Corporation. This lead to the first issue of Essence magazine in May 1970 and Essence Communications, Inc. (ECI) began its journey to corporate success.

    Throughout the years Smith has been instrumental in leading the firm beyond publishing into licensing, direct-mail marketing and television production. The company currently produces The Essence Awards, an annual prime-time network special, and has produced such award-wining programs as Essence, a weekly syndicated magazine and news-service television show.

    ECI also heads the mail order catalog Essence-By-Mail, Essence Art Reproductions, Income Opportunities magazine, and is a major investor in Amistad Press and co-publisher of Latina magazine.

    Smith is always looking for new and innovative ways to build and strengthen both ECI and the African-American community. He serves on the board of advisors for Teach for America, a nationwide group of teachers that strives to bring quality education to America's children, and is a trustee of TransAfrica Forum and a member of the African-American Task Force of the Media-Advertising Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

    "We are proud to have Clarence Smith as our keynote speaker for this year's Entrepreneurial Leadership Conference," stated Geri Duncan Jones, AHBAI Executive Director. "His experiences will benefit and inspire the future entrepreneurs who attend the conference."

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