In coming up with his business idea, Dagoberto Ruiz combined two of his passions: The yearbook and YouTube.

While the yearbook is a time-treasured item, Dagoberto thinks students would prefer the live action and personality that only live video can provide. Why not offer a DVD with all the memorable high school events documented?

"Could anyone not love his proposal?" asks Lee Clark, one of the judges in this year's contest. "Imagine sitting down and watching a video of your own high school experiences -- hanging out with buddies, going to the prom, pep rallies, weeping and cheering at graduation. Each video would be personalized enough to make it your very own, placing you in the midst of wonderful times past."

Dagoberto's plan for R-Pro Films won second place in the Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge student contest.

"When I heard the news, I was glad to hear that someone had paid attention to my plans. I did not think I was going to end up in the top, since there were so many good ideas to choose from, " said Dagoberto, a senior at South Dade Senior High where he is a member of the Summa Cum Laude Group as well as the NFTE program, which teaches entrepreneurship.

According to Dagoberto's plan, he would need $4,400 in start-up costs, which would cover a $3,000 HD camera, video editing and encryption software and cash reserves for three months of operating costs. He plans to sell his $35 DVDs through his website.

Dagoberto cites his three years of experience editing and filming videos and his skill in using Adobe Video Workshop. Plus, he loves working with kids. "It makes me feel like I'm giving back to my community, " said Dagoberto, who likes chemistry and enjoys playing sports, particularly baseball.

Dagoberto plans to get a job this summer to save for a car before enrolling at Miami Dade College's Homestead campus. He thinks he may want to go into a film production-related career or perhaps become a veterinarian.

"Dago's business plan is innovative. I believe there is substantial student demand for a video yearbook and no local supplier. Also, a significant advantage of his plan is a low start-up cost and low fixed monthly operating costs. Therefore, Dago's plan involves relatively small risk, and is likely to be profitable, " said Zachary Miller, Dagoberto's honors economics teacher. The judges agreed.

"What Dagoberto has done is reinvent the traditional yearbook, " said Alice Horn, one of the judges and executive director of NFTE South Florida. "The judges were also impressed with the strong financials in his plan and could envision franchises in other markets."

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