By Zach Spicer
Jackson County high school students: What’s your business idea?
The 2026 Maverick Challenge Jackson County kicked off Aug. 25 at Seymour High School with Arann Banks with Brownstown Ewing Main Street, Darren Cain with Seymour Main Street and Zach Spicer with JCIDC visiting a couple of Dawn Jones’ classes to explain the program.
Maverick Challenge is a high school business planning competition that began in 2008 in Bartholomew County, and Jackson County joined the program in 2011. Two years ago, Bartholomew County ended the program, but Jackson County leaders kept it going in the county with a partnership between four sponsors — Brownstown Ewing Main Street, Seymour Main Street, Jackson County Chamber and JCIDC — and a funding partner — JCBank.
Students can work individually, with a partner or with more than one partner and pitch their business idea to local business professionals. They are paired with a mentor to help them work through the process, and in February, the top 10 finalists give oral presentations in front of a panel of judges. There, they have an opportunity to earn money and be named the 2026 Maverick Challenge Jackson County winner.
The program is open to high school students from around Jackson County. On Aug. 26, students from Brownstown Central and Crothersville high schools will learn about the program, and on Aug. 27, students from Medora High School will receive information about it.
For the second year in a row, the winner will be one of the finalists in the SPARK Tank competition, giving them a chance to win more money.
They also can enter the state’s Innovate WithIN competition, where again, more money is up for grabs.
