WATERVILLE — Thomas College student and Searsport native Cole Ellis is appearing this spring as a contestant on the ninth season of Greenlight Maine’s College Edition business competition show.

Ellis, a first-year marketing and entrepreneurship student, will pitch his business, Keep it Clean Heat Pumps, a service and cleaning company out of Searsport.

“I’m really excited about appearing on Greenlight Maine,” said Ellis in a news release. “It will be great exposure for my business and I’m so thankful for the community and support at Thomas College that has helped get me here.”

Ellis has always had the entrepreneurial bug — from selling eraser tops to kids in first grade and chicken tenders for a profit to his classmates in middle school to creating and selling hydro drip designed electronics in high school.

Now, he has two employees for his business and is studying full-time in college- things he never thought possible.

Greenlight Maine College Edition highlights innovative college students who have a business idea in any stage of development, from a simple idea to a well-constructed business plan. The 10 contestants square off in a televised pitch-off to determine the three finalists. Those three finalists then pitch off against one another in the Greenlight Maine Collegiate Finale to compete for a cash prize. The cash prizes include: first place — $10,000, second place — $7,500, and third place — $5,000.

The series kicked off April 6 and will air on several television markets throughout the state: WGME CBS 13 — Portland, WABI TV5 CBS — Bangor, WWPI-LD NBC — Presque Isle and Maine Public — statewide.

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