Program fosters entrepreneurship among high school students

Published: 2006-08-04

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- This summer, a group of high school students got a the chance to make their business ideas a reality at an entrepreneurship program at Jesuit-run St. Louis University. The 2006 Summer Academy program, hosted by the Smurfit-Stone Center for Entrepreneurship at the university's business school, was called "Jumpstart Your Independence: Learn to Be Your Own Boss." Kevin Schulte, the center's director, said 20 participants signed up for the July 24-28 program, double the number of last year's enrollment. Participants are diverse -- both in their background and their hometowns, he said. One of this year's students was from Taiwan. The students form teams, and at the conclusion of the program local entrepreneurs judge their PowerPoint business plans. Each day the teams work on their individual presentations. Entrepreneurs and educators serve as consultants, mentoring the students as they learn business strategies, product development and team-building concepts. The first thing the students learn is that they must have the necessary resources to start up a business.

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