Sponsored by Huntington Learning Center Zionsville
Evan Walker, a junior at Zionsville High School, isn’t waiting until graduation to pursue his passion for entrepreneurship. In addition to running his own curb painting business, Clear Vision Curbs, Walker recently founded Sprint to Success, a monthly pitch competition for local high school students to cultivate creativity, business acumen and community involvement.
Created under the umbrella of the Zionsville High School Entrepreneurship Club, Sprint to Success invites students to form small teams and tackle a unique business prompt revealed the night of the event. They have one hour to brainstorm, develop and pitch a solution to a panel of judges composed of local business owners, educators and past event sponsors. The event has already drawn around 30 participants at each of its first two sessions and awarded more than $800 in prize money.
“I’ve always loved pitch contests,” Walker says. “I’ve participated in the University of Evansville High School Changemaker Challenge and similar competitions, and I wanted to bring that same energy to Zionsville in a way that’s fun and accessible.”
The event’s casual, fast-paced format appeals to students new to entrepreneurship. Prompts are relevant and timely, like building a business to support prom or reimagining an empty lot in town.
“We try to tie the prompt to something happening locally or something students can relate to,” Walker says.
Despite being organized independently from the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (of which Walker is also a member), the pitch contest has received generous support from the community. MYAC members like Kate Swanson and generous sponsors — including Walker’s father and representatives from the Evansville Changemaker Challenge — have contributed as judges and donors, making the community an integral part of this initiative.
Walker co-runs the event with Charlie March-Gibson, who is heading to Michigan for the summer. Despite March-Gibson’s departure, Walker plans to continue hosting events throughout the summer. The next event is set for June 7 at COhatch in Zionsville, which offers a larger venue to welcome more participants.
Walker envisions a bright future for the Sprint to Success competition. He sees potential for it to continue after he graduates, possibly expanding to other schools or even becoming a larger competition with corporate sponsors.
“Rahal Racing would be a dream sponsor,” he says.
Walker’s entrepreneurial spirit is already in motion through Clear Vision Curbs, his business that sandblasts uniform address numbers onto neighborhood curbs for increased visibility and aesthetic cohesion. He pitched the concept at the University of Evansville High School Changemaker Challenge and won a $10,000 scholarship. So, he knows how powerful contests like his can be for young entrepreneurs.
Walker is focusing on scaling his business and the pitch contest. He’s currently seeking sponsors, judges and local business partners to support future events.
“The more money we can raise, the bigger the event, and the more excited students get to participate,” he says.
To learn more or get involved, follow the Zionsville Entrepreneurship Club on Instagram or visit Walker’s business website at clearvisioncurbs.com.
