YEA! Program - available for student in grades 6-12
APPLY HERE!
(Mrs. Butler can submit your transcript directly to YEA! - please contact her about this)
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a year-long program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own REAL businesses. YEA! was developed at the University of Rochester in 2004 with the support of a grant from the Kauffman Foundation. The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is excited to be introducing YEA! to the Blair County Community!
YEA! guides high school students through the process of starting and running a legitimate business or social movement over the course of a full academic year. As of 2015, YEA! has graduated 4,338 students who have started over 3,172 businesses and social movements! YEA! graduates started as students, and left the program as CEOs of their own companies!
Over the course of the program, students:
• Brainstorm business ideas
• Write a business plan
• Interact with business professionals
• Pitch their business plan to potential “investors” (think ABC’s “Shark Tank”!)
• Obtain funding
• Legally register their businesses
• Participate in a Trade Show
• Actually launch their own businesses or social movements
Why Apply?
This program offers students the chance to:
• Develop the skills necessary to launch their own business or social movement (hands-on
entrepreneurial experience!)
• Learn about real businesses - why they succeed or fail.
• Hear from local entrepreneurs.
• Launch their own business or social movement!
• Become more confident in their ideas and their abilities.
Organization of Program
YEA! classes will meet October through April, for three hours weekly.
There are no classes during regular school holidays and recesses. Students are taught by an instructor, but are exposed to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and business mentors. The class goes on field trips to a variety of local businesses. Finally, the students participate in three major events throughout the year: the Investor Panel, Trade Show, and a formal graduation ceremony.
Student Selection Process
To apply for YEA!, students must:
• Fill out the YEA! application
• Complete the essay and the short answer questions
• Submit their transcripts
• Submit a letter of recommendation
Once the completed application packet is received, students will be asked to come in for an interview.
Acceptance in the program is based on all aspects of an application, as well as the personal interview.
Prior experience with business is not required!
How Business Professionals Can Get Involved
Through their interactions with business professionals during the year, YEA! students gain some of the most important knowledge and experience they need to succeed. Local professionals volunteer their time and expertise as guest speakers, mentors, investors, graphic designers, field trip hosts, business plan reviewers, and much more. The time YEA! students spend with adults who encourage their futures
is invaluable, and participants often report getting even more out of their participation than they put in
to it!
For more information, call 814-943-8151 or email [email protected]
(Mrs. Butler can submit your transcript directly to YEA! - please contact her about this)
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a year-long program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own REAL businesses. YEA! was developed at the University of Rochester in 2004 with the support of a grant from the Kauffman Foundation. The Blair County Chamber of Commerce is excited to be introducing YEA! to the Blair County Community!
YEA! guides high school students through the process of starting and running a legitimate business or social movement over the course of a full academic year. As of 2015, YEA! has graduated 4,338 students who have started over 3,172 businesses and social movements! YEA! graduates started as students, and left the program as CEOs of their own companies!
Over the course of the program, students:
• Brainstorm business ideas
• Write a business plan
• Interact with business professionals
• Pitch their business plan to potential “investors” (think ABC’s “Shark Tank”!)
• Obtain funding
• Legally register their businesses
• Participate in a Trade Show
• Actually launch their own businesses or social movements
Why Apply?
This program offers students the chance to:
• Develop the skills necessary to launch their own business or social movement (hands-on
entrepreneurial experience!)
• Learn about real businesses - why they succeed or fail.
• Hear from local entrepreneurs.
• Launch their own business or social movement!
• Become more confident in their ideas and their abilities.
Organization of Program
YEA! classes will meet October through April, for three hours weekly.
There are no classes during regular school holidays and recesses. Students are taught by an instructor, but are exposed to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and business mentors. The class goes on field trips to a variety of local businesses. Finally, the students participate in three major events throughout the year: the Investor Panel, Trade Show, and a formal graduation ceremony.
Student Selection Process
To apply for YEA!, students must:
• Fill out the YEA! application
• Complete the essay and the short answer questions
• Submit their transcripts
• Submit a letter of recommendation
Once the completed application packet is received, students will be asked to come in for an interview.
Acceptance in the program is based on all aspects of an application, as well as the personal interview.
Prior experience with business is not required!
How Business Professionals Can Get Involved
Through their interactions with business professionals during the year, YEA! students gain some of the most important knowledge and experience they need to succeed. Local professionals volunteer their time and expertise as guest speakers, mentors, investors, graphic designers, field trip hosts, business plan reviewers, and much more. The time YEA! students spend with adults who encourage their futures
is invaluable, and participants often report getting even more out of their participation than they put in
to it!
For more information, call 814-943-8151 or email [email protected]