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Student Entrepreneurs Compete at at Lindsey Wilson Annual Business Expo

by Venus Popplewell

Columbia, KY (04/17/2026) — As a lifelong swimmer and member of the Lindsey Wilson University swim program, Clinton Eales has always been comfortable in the water. But it was a chance encounter while surfing that opened his eyes to a sobering reality, not everyone knows how to swim or save someone who can't.

"A few years ago my friends and I were surfing and we noticed some people struggling in the water," said Eales, a Lindsey Wilson business administration junior from South Africa. It became very clear they were drowning. My friends and I were able to rescue those people but the experience stayed with me and that's how The Ripple Effect was born."

Eales was the top winner at the Lindsey Wilson University Entrepreneurship Expo, held on Wednesday, April 15, in the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center. A total of 16 teams of 32 Lindsey Wilson students competed for top recognition at the annual business expo sponsored by the Lindsey Wilson Center for Entrepreneurship.

Eales's company, The Ripple Effect, is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make water safety accessible to all children. The organization will focus not only on personal water safety, but also on teaching people how to help others in distress in the water.

"I'd love to get The Ripple Effect started while I am home in South Africa this summer," said Eales. "We'll run paid camps and free camps. The paid camps will fully fund the free camps to keep the organization sustainable while still reaching the people that need it the most."

Eales won a $1,000 cash prize for his business concept.

Second place and a $800 cash prize was awarded to business administration freshman Yun-Hee Kim of South Korea for her concept, Hidden Museum. A try-before-you-buy art brokerage company designed to help art buyers discover new artists and museum-quality art using augmented reality.

The third place winner and $500 cash prize went to the team that presented The Campus Truck, a campus dining collaboration intended to provide food options for student-athletes with specific nutritional needs. The Campus Truck was presented by junior Houston Cloud of Lancaster, Kentucky; junior Ethan Cooper of Jamestown, Kentucky; senior Daniel Deng of Rockford, Illinois; and senior Max Groom of Perth, Australia.

The people's choice award went to sophomores Jorge Bravo of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Dakadiums "DK" Justus of Christiana, Tennessee, for their concept Lace Up.

"The Entrepreneurship Expo is an excellent opportunity to network and learn about emerging trends while supporting young innovators and future business leaders," said Lindsey Wilson business professor Cathy Boatright, who is also the school's business program coordinator.

Most of the students who entered the expo came from the college's "Small Business Management" and "Entrepreneurship" classes. The top three winning concepts were determined by a panel of judges from the region.

Media Attachments

A total of 16 teams of 32 Lindsey Wilson students competed for top recognition at the annual Lindsey Wilson University Entrepreneurship Expo on Wednesday, April 15, in the Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center. Taking first place and a $1,000 cash award was junior Clinton Eales, second from left, of South Africa for his concept, The Ripple Effect. Also pictured are event coordinators Lindsey Wilson business faculty members Cathy Boatright, Linda McKinley-Grider and Jennifer Crawley.

Three original business concepts were awarded top prizes by a panel of judges made up of regional business professionals on Wednesday, April 15, at the Lindsey Wilson University Entrepreneurship Expo. A total of 16 concepts, presented by 32 Lindsey Wilson students, competed for cash prizes totaling $500, $800 and $1,000. From left: Lindsey Wilson business faculty member Cathy Boatright; senior Daniel Deng of Rockford, Illinois; senior Max Groom of Perth, Australia; junior Clinton Eales of South Africa; junior Houston Cloud of Lancaster, Kentucky; freshman Yun-Hee Kim of South Korea; and business faculty members Linda McKinley-Grider and Jennifer Crawley.

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