Local youngster on national role model list

By: JOHN HALL - Staff Writer
Jason O'Neill, who invented Pencil Bugs, is recognized by Forbes.com | Monday, February 11, 2008 11:57 PM PST ∞

TEMECULA -- Britney? Nope. Lindsay? Not since having to go to rehab. So where are kids supposed to turn for positive role models these days?

Youngsters living in Southwest County don't have to look very far.

Temecula's Jason O'Neill, a 12-year-old entrepreneur who invented Pencil Bugs when he was just 9, was recently named by Forbes.com on its first-ever "10 Role Models 18 and Under" list.

While most may not be familiar with Jason, there are some rather well-known names on the same list.

One of those names is Miley Cyrus, the 15-year-old who also performs as "Hannah Montana" and who has sold out all her recent tour dates and is now in a hit movie.

Others on the list include Abigail Breslin, 11, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in the film "Little Miss Sunshine"; 14-year-old Nick Jonas, one of the namesakes in the popular The Jonas Brothers band; Freddy Adu, an 18-year-old internationally known soccer player; and Shawn Johnson, 16, who was the 2007 world all-around champion in gymnastics.

Along with those more famous names, Forbes.com also honored those not so well-known, including child prodigy Wendy Vo, who at age 8 is fluent in 11 languages and already has composed 44 songs.

So Jason is in some pretty select company. But then, Jason isn't your typical 12-year-old kid.

Last year, for example, Young Entrepreneurs of America created a new category for those under 16 years of age for its Young Entrepreneur of the Year ---- just so they could give Jason that award.

He also has been on several television, radio and Internet programs. With all that and his business to run, Jason the sixth-grader continues to be a straight-A student.

Pencil Bugs started as a simple craft fair product ---- Jason thought having a Pencil Bug would make homework a bit more fun. Pencil Bugs is now a full-fledged business complete with a Temecula business license, a state tax identification number and a Web site, www.pencilbugs.com, for sales.

When asked how the company is doing, Jason the businessman hedges a bit ---- fearing he'll say too much ---- and will only admit sales are "in the low thousands."

With a desire to help other kids through his product, Jason continues to donate a portion of his profits to HUGS Foster Family Agency in Temecula.

So far, each Pencil Bug has been handmade by Jason and his mother, Nancy, in their Temecula home. But that could soon change as the business continues to grow.

"We are looking at handing over production to someone else," Nancy O'Neill said, so Pencil Bugs could be mass produced for larger retail stores.

"Jason doesn't want to let it go," she said, but they both realize there would be no way to keep making each one themselves should the product demand become too great.

When asked if he has any plans to come up with something other than Pencil Bugs, Jason said, "I think I will keep with Pencil Bugs right now. It's been pretty successful."

Plus, he still has some big ideas for his little bugs. In one breath, Jason explains this plan:

"We are collaborating on a board game, we are finishing the first in a series of books about the adventures of Pencil Bugs and maybe, in the future, you'll see 'Pencil Bugs ---- The Movie.'"

David A. Andelman, executive editor of Forbes.com, said recently that while they wanted to include some high-profile role models on the list, "we wanted it to be clear that 'regular' kids can be just as incredible as those we see on TV or in the movies."

He said Forbes.com looked for young people who struck them as both admirable and responsible.

"A role model doesn't have to be famous: He or she has to be driven, responsible and talented," Andelman added. "Each of those chosen for the list is every one of these things and more, including Jason."

Nancy O'Neill said she found it a pleasant surprise that Forbes.com had "regular kids" on the list.

"It highlights kids who are doing well and shows that you don't have to be making millions of dollars to be deemed a success and make the list," she said.

"I hope this shows kids that they can all do more than just go to school, do your homework and go home," Nancy O'Neill said.

Jason said he was surprised when he found out he was on the list. But he wasn't as excited about being on there with "that Hannah Montana girl," as he calls her, as he was with another entrepreneur like himself. Maryanne Barrott, 17, was recognized for creating her own line of body care products and won the Young Entrepreneurs of America 2007 Business Plan competition.

"It was nice to see someone else on there who is a business person," he said.

Jason said "lots of kids think it's cool" when they find out he is on the Forbes.com list, once he explains to them what it is and who else is on there with him.

And in a way, it helps validate what he has always strived to do with his invention.

"Some people said at the beginning that I had a bad idea with Pencil Bugs," Jason said.

It appears one of the most respected business and financial Web sites disagrees.

-- Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.

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