NAWBO-Indianapolis and IUPUI have announced plans to launch the YEA! program at the IUPUI campus with 24 students for the fall of 2014.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is an educational program that takes students in grades 6 through 12 through the process of starting and running a real business. Students work closely with local business leaders to cultivate and research business ideas, write a business plan, pitch their plan to a panel of investors, obtain funding, develop their brand, participate in a trade show at the end of the year and actually launch their enterprise.
Through the YEA! program, students 11 to 18 years old start as students and graduate as CEOs. They learn to make a job – not just take a job.
“We are so excited to participate in the national movement of making experiential entrepreneurship education available to youth all across our country,” said Deborah Oatts, NAWBO-Indianapolis president. “This is how, as a society and as a nation, we’re ultimately going to change the world.” NAWBO is the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Local educators are thrilled with the promise of the YEA! program to bestow upon its students valuable real-life skills and training. The most interesting components of the program is the actual behind the scenes knowledge the students are given from local business leaders, who were at one time, standing in their shoes. The experience is something they will be able to apply to whatever field they choose to enter, thereby giving them the necessary skills to become future leaders of industry. The program will start in October and run for 30 weeks.
And school administrators aren’t the only ones who are excited to see the profound impacts the YEA! program will make. Local professionals applaud the community’s collaboration and interest in the future of business in the area and anticipate the benefits of this program will reach far beyond the classroom.
Carol Curran, president of Phoenix Data Corp. agrees. “We as a community get to benefit from all the enterprises these students are creating. It sets our community up for a thriving future for years to come and provides the training our next generation of CEOs need to steer our country toward prosperity and freedom,” Curran said.
“IUPUI and the community are ready to launch the YEA! program this fall,” said Chancellor Charles Bantz. “By partnering with YEA! and acting as mentors, business leaders of both large and small companies can help support budding entrepreneurs succeed.” These business partners volunteer their time and services acting as business mentors, field trip hosts, guest lecturers, graphic designers, web developers, attorneys, etc. Community support strengthens the program and the academy strengthens the community.
When asked why NAWBO-Indianapolis chose to partner with YEA! and bring that program to the community, Lisa Purichia, NAWBO-Indianapolis board liaison said, “NAWBO-Indianapolis has always been committed to improving our local community and preparing our area’s youth to meet the challenges of today’s world and the YEA! program is in perfect alignment with that mission. We can’t wait to see all of the enterprises students in our area will be launching.”
For more information, contact Sheena Lee at (317) 608-0252.
