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.