EMBODI members and Entrepreneur winners for 2025: (left to right) Maurice Lemon-EMBODI member, Elijah Shaw-1st. Place winner and Jeremiah Covington-winner. (Courtesy photo).
BENNETTSVILLE — Members of the Bennettsville-Cheraw Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. announced winners of their entrepreneur competition during their May Week program held May 18.
Two Empowering Males to Build, Opportunities for Developing Independence (EMBODI) members were declared young entrepreneurs.
For the past eight years, the EMBODI group has been engaged in entrepreneur workshops that stressed entrepreneurship by developing and implementing a business plan. Brandon Blair, a former Summit III (EMBODI) member and owner of Cicero Holdings, and other entrepreneurs discussed the following aspects of business ownership: business name, owner(s), benefits of the service, pricing, industry, potential customers, competitors, advertising and other factors involved with owning a business.
Jeremiah Covington and Elijah Shaw developed plans for a new or established business and competed for prize money.
Covington, a 10th grader at Rockingham High School, was declared the winner. His business is J and R Lawn Care Service. He won $100, with an additional $500 to be used to expand his business.
Shaw, a 12th grader at Rockingham High School, won first place. His business is The Plant Master. He won $75 with an additional $300 to be used to expand his business.
The businesses who received additional money will be monitored throughout the year by members of the EMBODI Committee.
The entrepreneur participants presented their businesses to the following judges: Elijah Blair owner of Elijah’s Lawn Care in Bennettsville, SC; Woodrow Blair owner of Mama Blair’s Restaurant in Bennettsville, SC. and Debra Myers, manager of Bojangles in Bennettsville, SC.
The EMBODI Entrepreneur competition is financially sponsored by Darrell Campbell of Campbell Consulting Firm in Columbia, South Carolina.
The competition will be continued for the 2025-2026 year.