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GULF COAST CHEERS "YEA!" FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Gulf Shores High school and Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber Launch Young Entrepreneurs Academy
GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH, AL -The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is an innovative program that guides students through the process of starting their own real business. The Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the start of the YEA! program at Gulf Shores High School.
YEA! is a groundbreaking program that takes students between the ages of 11 and 18 through the process of starting a launching a real business or social movement over the course of an academic year . By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program. YEA! aims at teaching students at an early age how to make a job, not just take a job. YEA! was developed at the University of Rochester with support from The Kauffman Foundation.
"We are excited about the expansion and specifically chose the Gulf Shores High School because of its reputation for academic excellence," said Gayle Jagel, the CEO and founder of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. In 2008, YEA! "spun-off" from the University of Rochester and currently operates YEA! sites in colleges, universities and high schools across the country. "We are so excited to be able to advance the business education of middle and high school students through the Young Entrepreneurs Academy. Our program is unique in that it is being coordinated with the existing in-school Career Academies, making it the first of its kind in Alabama," said Chamber President Ed Rodriguez.
The program requires a nine-month commitment from its young executives. In that time they brainstorm and form their enterprises, make pitches to potential investors, obtain funding, register their companies with governmental agencies, and actually launch their own company or social movement! Business mentors, graphic designers, and local entrepreneurs support the students throughout the program and all of the learning is real and experiential.
The program is a team effort between the Chamber, Gulf Shores High School, and the Coastal Baldwin Educational Enrichment Foundation. Michelle Nelson, Vice Chair of the Chamber's Educational Affairs Council, introduced the key players for the program at a recent Chamber breakfast where the program was formally unveiled. The event was attended by over 150 business and civic leaders. Gulf Shores High School Principal Dr. Ernie Rosado discussed the program's integration with the Career Academies.
The Chamber also announced that Amy Elliott will serve as Program Manager and that Braswell McMeans will serve as Instructor for the program's first year. "We couldn't be happier with the team of Amy and Braswell," said Rodriguez. "Amy is well-known and highly regarded in the business community from her work with the Business Support Center. Braswell has been involved in the YEA! program at Foley High School where he served as a mentor. And, he's a young entrepreneur himself!"
"One of the most exciting aspects 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!" added Rodriguez. "No matter what field these students eventually choose to enter, this program will help provide necessary skills to become leaders in that field."
"The entire community is really excited by how well the beginning of the class has gone so far and the potential the program has to strengthen the educational programs at Gulf Shores High School," adds Jagel, "We are urging all local business leaders to become involved with the program and act as mentors to the budding entrepreneurs." By partnering with YEA!, both large and small companies/businesses 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.
About the Young Entrepreneurs Academy The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is a groundbreaking educational program that takes students in grades six through twelve through the process of starting and running real businesses over the course of a full academic year. Students work in close cooperation with local leaders of industry, community members, and educators to develop ideas and objectives, write business plans, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies, develop their brand identity and much more! By the end of the class, students own and operate fully functioning businesses that can be carried on after graduation. Students learn to make a job--not just take a job! YEA!'s direct mission is to help students embrace their passion, energy, creativity and talents, launch a venture, and view entrepreneurship as synonymous with success and freedom. In 2008, YEA! "spun-off" from the University of Rochester, where it was formed in 2004 with support from the Kauffman Foundation, to create its own not-for-profit corporation, YEA! Inc., which is currently launching sites in colleges, universities and high schools across the country to provide comprehensive, exciting entrepreneurship education, leadership development and innovation training to youth between the ages of 11 and 18 years old in the United States thereby making the program available to students at a variety of geographical regions, and providing them with skills they need to succeed in the 21st Century. For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, please call 585.272.3535 or visitwww.yeausa.org Begin as a student and finish as a CEO!©
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The Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce is a business-based, volunteer-driven, member-supported association working full-time to preserve, enhance and expand the business environment in Coastal Baldwin County. We do this by serving as a vehicle for building coalitions, furthering business advocacy, championing education in our region, promoting community enrichment and leadership in events and programs, and by providing our members with a comprehensive package of benefits and services to maximize their success. In doing so, we help our members and our community maximize desired results beyond individually attainable levels! |
