Danville and Boyle County students in grades 6-12 can now find out how to make a job rather than take a job through the recent launch of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA, is an innovative educational program that takes selected students through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. The Danville-Boyle County Chamber of Commerce is the only organization in Kentucky that has a YEA program, said Chamber President Ben Nelson.
“Boyle County Schools is excited to work with the Chamber to provide an opportunity like YEA to our students,” said David Young, assistant superintendent. “The spirit of entrepreneurship is vital to any local economy.”
The program requires a nine-month commitment from its young executives. Business mentors, graphic designers and local entrepreneurs support the students’ entrepreneurial efforts. Students participating in the program will work closely with local industry leaders and educators to develop business ideas, create a list of company objectives, write business plans, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies and develop each company’s unique brand identity.
YEA students can keep running their businesses after the classes end or even after they graduate from high school.
“Programs like YEA are focused on exactly what will help students to be most successful in the future,” said Danville Superintendent Carmen Coleman.
YEA started at New York’s University of Rochester in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2008 that the program expanded beyond New York state. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, an organization dedicated to entrepreneurship, provides partial financial support to YEA programs.
“We believe that the lessons our students will learn through YEA in terms of progressive thinking, business, and marketing skills will serve them well throughout their lives,” Young said.
For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, call (859) 236-2361 or visit http://www.facebook.com/YEAInc
