River Ridge Senior Takes Top Prize at FLEX Cherokee, Earns $5,000 and a Spot in State Competition
Annabell Meyer's media company topped two other Cherokee County student ventures at the Historic Canton Theatre and now heads to the Georgia FLEX State Competition in April
Woodstock Community News Staff
River Ridge High School senior Annabell Meyer walked off the stage at the Historic Canton Theatre on March 19 as the 2025-26 FLEX Cherokee champion, taking home $5,000 in seed funding for her media company, Aspire Great Media — the top prize in Cherokee County's first year of the statewide entrepreneurship program.
Meyer was one of three finalists who advanced from a second-round cohort of 10 student-run businesses from across the Cherokee County School District, earning her shot at the championship stage through a multi-round local competition before pitching to judges in a live "Shark Tank-style" final at the Canton Theatre in downtown Canton. She now advances to the Georgia FLEX State Competition on April 15, where she will compete for up to $10,000 in additional seed funding.
FLEX — which stands for Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurial Experience — is a statewide initiative that originated in Fitzgerald, Georgia. What sets it apart from typical classroom exercises is the standard it holds students to: participants must actually launch and operate real businesses, not draft theoretical plans. That distinction matters in a county like Cherokee, where economic development leaders have worked deliberately to cultivate a local entrepreneurial culture alongside the corporate and commercial growth that has reshaped the area over the past two decades.
Joining Meyer in the finals were Javen Simmons of Etowah High School, whose streetwear brand Vision Studioz earned second place and $2,500, and the team of Carter Hutchison and Gavin Letendre, whose clothing company WeighTex — a cross-school collaboration between Creekview and Etowah high schools — took third place and $1,250. The fact that all three finalists came from different corners of the county's school system underscored the program's reach in its debut year.
FLEX Cherokee launched this school year as a partnership between the Cherokee Office of Economic Development (COED) and the Cherokee County School District. COED, which operates under Cherokee County government and works to attract, retain, and grow businesses throughout the county, teamed with the school district to bring the program to local high schools for the first time. The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce also played a supporting role: Chamber President Pam Carnes served as master of ceremonies for the final event, and all three finalist businesses will receive sponsored Chamber memberships for one year — giving teenage founders a seat at the same table as established local businesses.
Before the final pitch night, the top 10 FLEX Cherokee businesses had the chance to network with local business owners and showcase their ventures at Good Morning Cherokee, the Chamber's long-running monthly breakfast event that draws hundreds of business and community leaders. That early exposure gave student founders a real-world audience — and real-world feedback — well before the competition's final stage.
"Our students aren't just learning about business — they're starting, operating, and growing a business," said Mary Elizabeth Davis, superintendent of the Cherokee County School District. Heath Tippens, president of COED, noted that the students "listened to feedback, refined their models, and pitched with confidence," and said the organization looks forward to supporting Meyer at the state competition.
For Meyer, the night carried weight beyond the check. "Winning means a lot because it shows that people believe in what I'm building with Aspire Great Media," she said. "Now I'm getting to work on preparing for state by refining my presentation and continuing to grow the business."
Local business leaders interested in mentoring any of the three finalist ventures — whether through introductions, market insights, or technical guidance — can reach COED at info@cherokeega.org. Residents can follow Meyer's journey to the April 15 state competition through COED's social media channels at @CherokeeOED on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and can learn more about the program at cherokeega.org/flex.
