High school students who want to start their own business will have another opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship this summer as the Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy returns to Penn State Berks.
The six-week program, which began in 2022, lets 11th and 12th grade students learn directly from local business owners through classroom teaching and internships in the professional field.
Students in the program will learn the basics of being an entrepreneur — how to analyze the market and competition, create a business plan, develop, and execute a marketing plan, hire staff, manage a sales team, create a culture and more, according to a press release from the Emerging Entrepreneurs Academy.
The program is conducted by the Small Business Resource Association in partnership with Career Ready Berks.
“This interactive curriculum provides a special mix of educational workshops along with an internship experience for better guidance to career decision making beyond the options of college, trade school or entering the workforce after graduation,” said Gary Seibert, chief executive officer of the Small Business Resource Association. “We aim to reverse statistics that show local counties have some of the lowest business birth rates compared to the state and the entire nation.”
The Academy will run for six weeks at the Penn State Berks campus, with three weeks spent in classroom workshops, and three weeks of onsite internships with local business owners.
Classes begin on June 17 and end on August 2, with a break for Independence Day.
The program ends with a Shark Tank presentation, as well as an expo and gala.
Students and business owners alike praised the Academy during its first run in 2022, noting that it offered a lot of hands-on experience that some felt was missing in a traditional classroom setting.
Last year’s program had 33 students participating.
There seems to be a lot of interest in the Academy among students, as 60% of teenagers are more interested in starting a business than working a traditional job, according to a March 1 survey by Junior Achievement USA, which asked the question to 1,000 teens aged 13 to 17.
The cost for this year's tuition is $2,500 per student, but organizers hope to cover the cost for each student through sponsorships from local businesses.
Local businesses are urged to sponsor one or more students, organizers said, but business owners can also contribute by signing on as a presenter, an instructor, participating on a panel, or offering an internship.
The program will keep accepting applications until May 31. Up to 40 students will be accepted.
Students in grades 11 and 12 who want to apply, and businesses interested in getting involved can find more information on the Academy’s website, www.eeainpa.org.
