Brandi Lynn Thomas, 16, has won the 2008 Girls Going Places Entrepreneurship Award.
Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, sponsors the scholarship contest, which recognizes teen-age girls who have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurship.
Thomas founded Ballroom by Brandi, Covington, La., a dance company that offers professional ballroom dance instruction and etiquette training for children and adults.
The second prize winner, Alaina Lazzari, 14, started Simple Sugars, Pittsburgh, a line of all-natural body scrubs and moisturizers, and the third prize winner, Dallas Jessup, 16, started Just Yell Fire, Vancouver, Wash., a non-profit organization dedicated to keeping teen girls safe from abduction and assault.
Lazzari received a $5,000 scholarship, and Jessup received a $3,000 scholarship. Guardian also awarded 12 $1,000 scholarships.
Guardian says it received about 5,000 entries for the 2008 competition.
The 2007 first prize winner, Stephanie Brown, founded Oakwood Universal 1, Centerport, N.Y., a student-run high school credit union.
The 2006 first prize winner, Ionnie McNeil, founded Speak 2 Share Inc., Miami, a financial advice firm for young people.