Top Row: Bobby Hitt, BMW, SC Manufacturer's Alliance chairman, Ben Diebold, Paint ball business, Wando High School, Grade 10, Charleston School District; Senator Glenn McConnell; Speaker Bobby Harrell; Governor Mark Sanford

Bottom Row: Jade-Alexis Smiley, Precious Jade's, Alston Middle School, Grade 7, Dorchester 2; Kate Brady, Kate's Custom Kups, Wren Middle School, Grade 7, Anderson 1; and Ashlynn Russo, Charleston Canine Cookies, Rollings Middle School of the Arts, Grade 6, Dorchester 2.

Ben Diebold, Wando High School (Charleston School District)
For a year, Ben has been running his own business buying and selling paintball equipment, clothing and accessories. Ben markets his business to customers locally by attending contests where he buys and sells paintball products. A 21st-century entrepreneur, he also sells his products over the Internet to reach a larger customer market.

Kate Brady, Wren Middle School (Anderson One School District)
Kate runs Kate's Custom Kups. The seventh grader customizes hard plastic cups with names, monograms, or pictures, then fills them with candy, wraps them in cellophane and tops them off with a decorative bow. Kate sells to sorority girls who purchase the cups for their "Little Sisters" and to her middle school classmates. Kate has found a way to turn her style and passion for art into a lucrative business that she hopes will fund future business ideas that have a slightly higher start-up cost.

Jade-Alexis Smiley Alston Middle School (Dorchester Two School District)
Jade’s business is called Precious Jade's. Her slogan is "A place where you can find any gift." She paints and decorates wooden figurines, frames and more. She also crochets purses, necklaces, bracelets and earrings. They have her signature "Flower Power" flower crocheted on them.

Tanner Sarvis, Green Sea Floyds High/Middle School (Horry School District)
Tanner raises chickens (presently has 32) and sells the eggs that they produce for $1.75 per dozen. He sells approximately six to seven dozen per week and provides eggs for his family. Tanner also raises a pig each year for the Clemson Market Pig Project. After showing the pig at the Eastern Carolina Fair, he sells the pig for a profit.

Ashlynn Russo, Rollings Middle School of the Arts (Dorchester Two School District)
Ashlynn started baking all-natural dog treats last summer in her kitchen and sells them to friends and relatives, and over the Internet. Because her treats have no-preservatives and are all-natural, she has received many orders from owners of dogs that are allergic to mass-produced treats. She is capitalizing on the current trends of pampering pets, all-natural food products and the growing number of pets suffering from allergies. She hopes to expand by offering her treats through specialty pet stores and Charleston souvenir shops.

If you would like to learn more about the Merrill Lynch Young Entrepreneur award and how to nominate someone, click here.