YEA! Young Entrepreneurs Academy to launch program at WSU

Applications are being accepted now for an innovative entrepreneurship education program targeting Detroit-area students from grades 6 to 12.

An innovative program with a track record of success nationwide, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, offers groundbreaking year-long classes that teach middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors for startup funds, and launch and run their own, fully formed companies and social movements. The project-based program empowers students to take charge of their futures.

YEA! comes to Detroit

Beginning November 5, the newest YEA! site will be the Midtown Detroit campus of Wayne State University. The WSU/Detroit program will be unique to YEA! programs across the country in that it will focus exclusively on preparing female entrepreneurs. The driving force in establishing this site was the foundation of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Greater Detroit Chapter (NAWBO/EXCEL).

"Our goal is to show girls at a young age how to be successful business owners, and continue to support the growing trend of successful women-owned businesses in our community," said Carol Kirkland, president of NAWBO/EXCEL. "The YEA! experience can be applied to any field, and will provide young women with the necessary skills to become future leaders of their industries."

Apply now

YEA! will be hosted at Wayne State University on Thursday evenings from November 2015 through May 2016. The program is open to all girls in grades 6 through 12.

Applications are being accepted through October 23 and enrollment is competitive. To apply, visit https://yeausa.wufoo.com/forms/yea-student-application/.

For more information on the YEA! program and how you can nominate a student, contact Melissa Hughes at 313-961-4748,  YEANAWBODetroit@yahoo.com.

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