Two Wicomico students were big winners  at the annual Shore Hatchery Entrepreneurship Competition at Salisbury University, taking home $20,000 between them to support their growing businesses.

Parkside High School freshman and Young Entrepreneurs Academy graduate RJ Batts tied for second place with an award of $15,000 at Salisbury University Shore Hatchery competition on Friday, Oct. 28. Months of work and practice helped him rise to the top level of 30 businesses to take home the award for his product Tip Tough. He is the youngest entrepreneur to win an award of this size through Shore Hatchery.

He is still competing in the StartUp MD You Tube campaign for fan favorite based on views, likes, and shares through Nov 11.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2Utk0xFPxU. Please visit the link and watch the whole video to learn more about RJ’s invention, and to support him in the StartUp MD contest.

Recently, he presented his business at Maryland Capital Enterprises yearly award dinner at Salisbury University.

In March, he with be the youngest inventor ever featured at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago. Tip Tough will launch nationally early in 2017.  RJ developed his product while participating in the 2015-2016 class of YEA!, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy supported by the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce.

Bennett Middle 8th-Grade student Marvin Li, also a YEA! alumnus, won $5,000 at Shore Hatchery for Stock Scholars, an interactive online platform geared toward teaching children about financial literacy through games and fun activities.