Cortney S.

Versatile Messages
Suitland, Maryland

“Dream big, and don’t let your dreams get past you.”

For Cortney, starting a business grew out of a personal tragedy. When Cortney was 15, his 18 year old brother Cody was shot and killed. Although Cortney was traumatized by his older brother’s untimely death, he vowed to become “the best big brother ever” and a role model to his ten younger siblings. Before he died, Cortney’s brother had loved creating custom t-shirts with glitter. So Cortney decided to do something that his brother could no longer do. He took the NFTE class at Suitland High School, and for his business idea he combined his two passions – reading the Bible and writing – into Versatile Messages, which offers printed and framed inspirational messages.