Use Your Network to Refer a Student to YEA!

The Chamber is proud to offer a unique program in entrepreneurial education for high school students. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), now entering its 1st year in Tacoma and its tenth  year nationwide, is an intensive six-month program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own REAL businesses and social movements.

Students are guided through each step of starting an enterprise, from brainstorming the idea to pitching their business plan to investors. Classroom learning is anchored by real-world applications, such as submitting DBAs to the County Clerk’s Office, opening bank accounts, filing tax returns, and earning real profits at a trade show.

 

Business leaders have insights on students who are passionate about business and would excel in the YEA! program. Please consider encouraging creative, motivated students to apply. Qualified students are those who have a strong work ethic and demonstrate high levels of effort on a consistent basis. Although prior experience in business is not required, students should have a strong interest in business and/or starting their own company or social movement. We encourage you to share information about the Academy with any student that you know that might be interested.

 

You may also have friends, colleagues and staff that might know students who would be interested in applying. Please feel free to share the information with those individuals as well.

 

The deadline for returning the completed YEA! application and scholarship application is Thursday, December 5, 2013. The Academy will notify the students who are accepted into the Class of 2014 by Tuesday, December 24.

 

Please note, scholarships are available and are selected based on the student’s application, letter of recommendation, student written statement, personal interview, and financial need.

 

For questions about student eligibility or the student selection procedures, contact the Chamber’s office at 253.682.1726 or yea@tacomachamber.org. Thank you for your support.