Firm Honors Student Who Has Own Business

A high school senior whose entrepreneurial energies led her to start her own gift business has been honored by a major accounting and consulting firm, officials said Thursday.

Yadira Cisneros, a Roosevelt High School student, is the recipient of the special Junior Achievement Entrepreneur of the Year award presented by Ernst & Young, said Jim Freer, area managing partner for the firm.

Cisneros, 18, said she has been selling hair clips, pencils and other small items since she was in elementary school.

She started her gift business early in her senior year, through a Junior Achievement class. By selling teddy bears, balloons, stationery and candy at school, Cisneros made enough money to buy a computer, filing cabinets and helium tank for her business, Yadira’s Gifts.

She hopes to open a shop near the Roosevelt campus and to attend community college.

“I think my hard work paid off,” said Cisneros of earning the entrepreneur award.