The 2026 North Carolina Youth Entrepreneurship Contest concluded with an awards ceremony held at the Cary Chamber of Commerce on July 25. The competition was jointly organized by the North Carolina Chapter of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) and the North Carolina Asian American Coalition (NCAAC).
Open to high school students across North Carolina, the competition provided young people with an opportunity to present original business ideas, strengthen their public-speaking skills, and develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
The ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Hannah Chan, chairwoman of the ILF North Carolina Chapter. She briefly introduced ILF’s mission of encouraging Asian American youth to develop leadership skills and become more involved in their communities and public affairs. She also encouraged students to seek opportunities to serve others and make a positive impact while pursuing academic and professional success.
A video message from ILF founder and CEO Chiling Tong followed. ILF recently completed its 2026 Civic Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C., offering college students from across the country opportunities to intern with federal agencies, congressional offices, think tanks, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions.
Kai Wong of Durham was selected as a 2026 ILF Civic Fellow and represented North Carolina in Washington, D.C. Through the program, he received an internship opportunity connected with efforts to establish the National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. The experience gave him firsthand exposure to public service and the opportunity to learn and grow on a national platform.
North Carolina House Representative Mike Schietzelt of District 35 delivered the keynote address. He emphasized that young people should not simply enjoy the institutions, opportunities, and communities built by earlier generations. Instead, they should prepare themselves to become the next generation of “builders” who will continue improving society.
Schietzelt noted that programs such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Competition give students a valuable platform to identify problems, develop creative ideas, present possible solutions, and learn how to turn those ideas into action. Such experiences, he said, can help young people develop the responsibility, creativity, confidence, and leadership skills needed to become builders in their communities and beyond.
The awards ceremony followed, recognizing a first-place winner, a second-place winner, and two teams tied for third place. Through their business presentations and responses to questions from the judges, the students demonstrated innovative thinking, teamwork, and strong communication skills.
The event concluded with remarks from NCAAC co-founder Leo Chan. He noted that Asian American families have traditionally placed a strong emphasis on education and often encourage their children to pursue respected professions such as medicine, law, and engineering. However, he said that young people also need to develop essential soft skills, including communication, teamwork, public speaking, problem-solving, and leadership.
Chan encouraged families to give students more opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and gain practical experience. By doing so, young people can grow not only into accomplished professionals, but also into confident communicators, effective collaborators, and active contributors to society.
More than a competition, the event offered students a platform to build confidence, test their ideas, and better understand the challenges facing their communities. It also encouraged more Asian American youth to move beyond being learners and beneficiaries of what previous generations have created and begin preparing themselves to become builders, problem-solvers, and future leaders.
We will have more videos and interviews covering the event coming soon!
