DSU Students Claim Prizes at Entrepreneurs Day

April 17, 2026

Two teams from Dakota State University claimed prizes at this year's Entrepreneurs Day, held March 27 on DSU's campus.

Entrepreneurs Day, in its eighth year at DSU, included a three-person speaker panel of local entrepreneurs, emceed by DSU alum Mike Vetter of Wildfire Labs. Following the speaking portion of the event, teams competed in a business pitch competition for prizes.

Tracey Kwareng and Jessica Senyah represented a DSU team that took second place with a $500 prize, and Tavone Keomanyvong won $250 with a third-place finish. Additionally, several DSU students won $50 with poster presentations.

"Entrepreneurs Day brought together innovation, inspiration, and competition in an exciting fashion once again," said Dr. Brenda Merkel, assistant professor of management at DSU. "Attendees were captivated by the incredible journeys and insights shared by our featured speakers, and the business pitch competition celebrated our next generation of entrepreneurs."

Full results of the business pitch competition are below.

High School Division

1st Place = $1,000

Platte High School

2nd Place = $500

Webster High School

3rd Place = $250

Baltic High School

College Division

1st Place = $1,000

Morningside University

2nd Place = $500

Dakota State University

Tracey Kwarteng and Jessica Senyah

3rd Place = $250

Dakota State University

Tavone Keomanyvong

Poster Presentations = $50 each

Dakota State University

Estefania Gonzalez

Niyongabo (Gabo) Yohana

Tobey Lee

Brian Aranki

Sheridyn Winter

The event was co-sponsored by the Lake Area Improvement Corporation, Dakota State Paulson Cyber Incubator & Entrepreneurial Center, and the NSF I-CORPS Great Plains Hub.

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