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Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University College of Business Administration student Danielle Flemister is the recipient of the 2014 Rising Student Entrepreneur Award.

The Rising Student Entrepreneur Award is presented by Á½ÐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s College of Business Administration and Cleveland Business Connects Magazine. The award annually honors a female student entrepreneur who has demonstrated early success though innovation, creativity and motivation. Flemister is the first recipient of the award.

Flemister is a double major in entrepreneurship and marketing with a minor in psychology. She is also the founder and CEO of her own business, Dunya Jeane, LLC., a clothing company that allows students to express their culture and diversity through clothing. The clothes are inspired by flags and symbols of various countries.

Since launching the company in December 2012, Dunya Jeane continues to gain momentum from being sold at festival and cultural events. As CEO, Flemister manages interns, funds and inventory. She not only plans and executes the marketing effort for the brand, but also designs the apparel.

Flemister, a Cleveland native, graduated as valedictorian from SuccessTech Academy in 2009. Her academic success has continued throughout her time at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹. She is a four-year recipient of Á½ÐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s Academic Achievement Award and the recipient of the Cleveland Rotary Club scholarship.  Additionally, Flemister and Dunya Jeane received an award from the College of Business Administration’s CEBI Student Venture Fund, which helps students fund their business ideas.

Flemister is already working to launch her second venture, AvaKare. The goal of the new start-up is meant to revolutionize children’s hospital wear. She and her team recently pitched the idea during Entrepreneurship Immersion Week at Hiram College and took second place.

As the recipient of the 2014 Rising Entrepreneur Award, Flemister will receive marketing and education mentoring provided by Contempo Communications and Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation for one year. This will include marketing Dunya Jeane through both Contempo Communications and the College of Business Administration’s communication channels, including email newsletters, social media, web pages and feature articles.

For more information about the Á½ÐÔÉ«Îçҹ’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the College of Business Administration, visit www.kent.edu/business.

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Photo Caption:
Deborah Spake, (left), dean of Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s College of Business Administration, and Renee DeLuca Dolan, publisher of Cleveland Business Connects Magazine (right), join Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ student Danielle Flemister as she displays her 2014 Rising Entrepreneur Award.

Media Contacts:
Michelle Parrish, mparris3@kent.edu, 330-672-2717
Bob Burford, rburford@kent.edu, 330-672-8516