With competition season underway, young entrepreneurs across Kern County and California high schools participated in the 2026 VE California Conference and Exhibition!Â
Hosted at Dignity Health Theater & Convention Center, this two-day event allowed students to compete in oral and business-plan competitions. VE student firms also sold their products at the trade show, practicing their sales pitches and creating impressive booth designs!Â
A Special Shoutout to the Top 3 firms in the West Region Business Plan Competition:
- Chameleon – Centennial High School
- Loop – Bakersfield High School
- Securely Yours – Ridgeview High School
Our deepest gratitude to our supporters
On behalf of all the participants and VE staff, we sincerely thank you for supporting this amazing event. Competition season is a way to showcase students’ work and give them opportunities to prepare for their careers!Â
In no particular order, thank you to:
- Brian Miller, Erin Hodson, and staff, who worked hard to set up the event.
- Our Judges, who worked tirelessly for 2 days, using their expertise to give the students helpful feedback and advice.Â
Congratulations to all the participants. We are excited to continue to see students’ growth and development, and bring more memorable experiences to practice their hard and soft skills!Â