WKU News & Events

April 26, 2002

Young Entrepreneurs Accept
Scholarships To WKU

Bowling Green, Ky. - A successful online business launched by local high school brothers and their family will continue its growth in Bowling Green thanks to Kentucky's New Economy initiative and

entrepreneurial scholarships from Western Kentucky University.

Clinton and Chris Mills, twin sons of Ed and Chrystal Mills, are co-owners of Hitcents.com, an online advertising and marketing firm that is entering its third year in business.

Western formally announced today that Chris Mills will be the first recipient of the Don and Suzanne Vitale Entrepreneurial Scholarship and that Clinton Mills will be the first recipient of the Presidential Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship. The full scholarships will include tuition, books, room, meals and an international study experience.

"We looked into other universities with the thought of letting someone else run our business and taking four years off to get a college education," said Clinton Mills, who plans to major in computer information systems. "As the commitment to college became closer, we decided it would be too hard to let go of something we worked so hard on."

Several factors, including a location for the company and the state's support of high-tech business, contributed to the Mills twins choosing Western over a list of schools that included Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, Texas, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

"Western would enable us to continue to work at our business and get a college degree at the same time," said Chris Mills, who plans to major in marketing.

"Clinton and Chris Mills are examples of the creative, young entrepreneurs who will build Kentucky's new economy," WKU President Gary Ransdell said. "Their company, Hitcents, is an example of innovative, high-tech business that will promote economic development in southcentral Kentucky."

The Mills' business will move into Western's Center for Research and Development, formerly the old Bowling Green Mall.

"Clinton and Chris personify the type of student we are seeking for Western Kentucky University. And by nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit of our young people, providing opportunities in nationally recognized programs and offering international educational experiences, Western truly is becoming the university of choice," Dr. Ransdell said.

The success of Hitcents could attract similar companies to the Center and will benefit other WKU students, Ed Mills said.

"Getting the business in the new center with a larger facility alongside other high-tech business can only benefit both sides," he said. "The business can then expand into hiring more people when we have a place for them. The workforce at Hitcents will probably employee intern fellow Western students so they to can enjoy the entrepreneur atmosphere."

Leo Simpson, Mattie Newman Ford professor of entrepreneurship, agreed.

"The Mills twins are a key piece in the bigger picture of trying to create innovative thinking among students and faculty at Western," Simpson said. "If they can come up with ideas in the new economy, the University structure will be there to provide opportunities for them."

The Center for Research and Development, the Innovation and Commercialization Center and the Center for Information Technology Enterprise are among the new economy initiatives under way at Western.

The Mills twins have been clients of Western's Small Business Development Center for more than three years and served as interns there during their senior year in high school.

The family believes the twins' success and the growth of the business will continue at Western.

"As parents of Clinton and Chris Mills, we are extremely proud of them," said Chrystal Mills, who is administrative assistant for Hitcents. "We have watched them grow from challenging toddlers to curious little boys into hardworking businessmen."

In 2001, the twins were honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Kentucky's Young Entrepreneurs of the Year.

"The Mills' twins interest for international business, primarily in import and export of electronic equipment, and the education they will gain at Western Kentucky University will help to allow them to become more successful business men around the globe," said William Parsons, director of WKU's Center for Global Business. "The input from the business departments of WKU and their first experience in the industry is a perfect combination for a successful career."

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