Recently I was contacted by Bill Mattox of the James Madison Institute. He wrote:
“I am writing to let you know that you have been selected to be the 2014 recipient of JMI’s Preston A. Wells, Jr. Student Award. This award is given annually to a Florida teenager who shows extraordinary entrepreneurial spunk in launching a successful enterprise.
Needless to say, your can-do achievement of starting a financial website for teens, TeensGotCents, really impressed us. You embody the “thrift ethic” that we seek to promote. So, we are very pleased to select you for this award. You are a most deserving recipient.”
Can you believe it?!? What an honor to be recognized as an entrepreneur! I was so thrilled and surprised when I got the email. I am blessed that they took notice of my project.
Mr. Mattox went on to say that they were going to make a video about my website. What? Me? In a video? YAY!!! Then he explained that it would probably be an 8 – 10 hour day of filming. For a five minute video… And that’s when the adventure really began because that’s when I started getting a little bit nervous…and a lot excited!
I was SO nervous!
March 24th is a day I will never forget. Everyone gets one day where they feel like a star and the 24th was definitely that day for me! Unknown Media from Orlando, Kevin Cate from Tallahassee, Bill Mattox and Valerie Wickboldt from the James Madison Institute in Tallahassee all came to the house that day and we filmed the video.
Michael being awesome!
Michael Horton, the tech reviewer here at TeensGotCents also came to participate along with two readers, Ben Olsen and Genesis Myers. I am so thankful to have such great friends who would give up a good part of their day just to come and help me out!
Genesis and Ben were complete pros and didn’t seem nervous at all…
Later in the day two other friends, Jacob McRae and Crystal Ashley went to the rock climbing gym to climb with me.
Jacob had already been climbing but it was Crystal’s first try and she did great!
I am so proud to have been selected as this year’s recipient of the Preston A. Wells, Jr. Student Award. Having such an incredible video documenting my work here at TeensGotCents means so much to me. I am incredibly grateful, particularly to the James Madison Institute, and hope you will enjoy the video:
In the next few days I am going to put together a behind the scenes look at the making of the video. It was a lot of fun and a ton of work for a whole crew of people. Thank you so much for taking a look at the video and supporting all of my efforts around here!
Congratulations Eva! I was so excited to read this and watch the video. You are an extraordinary young lady- so proud of you! GQ
Thanks so much Gretchen! It was so much fun – I had no idea how much work goes into a professional video!
Congratulations Eva,
I loved watching the video and it’s amazing how far your school project is taking you. I’m sure you are making a difference in the lives of many of your fans. It’s great to see how you are reaching out, you are very passionate.
Mr.CBB 🙂
Thank you so much! You have been so kind to me and really helped mom and I understand some things in the beginning when we were just getting started. So many people have helped me and I am grateful!
This is such a great recognition, Eva! Congratulations on everything that you have accomplished with this project. 🙂
It’s great to see all that God is doing through you and also through the hard work and guidance of your mom. This is why you’re one of my favorite bloggers and I want to do whatever I can to see you flourish.
Thank you so much Khaleef. You have been such an inspiration to me and I hope that someday I will be able to help and encourage other new bloggers in the way that you have encouraged me!