The Kauffman Foundation reports that the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards announced the top students from around the world who are scheduled to compete at the 2009 GSEA Global Finals as the culminating point of Global Entrepreneur Week.

The young entrepreneur finalists are student business leaders representing 18 countries who have been singled out for their potential to bring about the economic turnaround. This year, young American entrepreneurs take the lead, with 13 out of 30 finalists from the US.

Kevin Langley, chairman elect EO Global, says this year's student nominees showed unprecedented quality. "These finalists represent the future of entrepreneurship and job innovation and the GSEA's goal - along with the Entrepreneurs' Organization - is to provide them with the platform to execute on their already visible natural abilities," he says.

The 2009 GSEA winner will be given the title of world's top student entrepreneur and will also receive $150,000 in cash and donated services including mentorship and access to the Entrepreneurs' Organization's global network.

According to a recent study from American Express OPEN, young entrepreneurs are the most likely to hire, have a capital investment plan and take financial risks, and the least likely to have cash flow issues.