advertisement

Palatine Chamber seeks 'Young Entrepreneurs'

The Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce is inviting District 15's seventh- and eighth-graders to join its Young Entrepreneurs Academy.

Previously offered only to area high school students, the chamber has extended opportunities to participate in YEA! to the district's junior high students this year. However, applications to participate in YEA! must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 30.

YEA! is for students who are creative, work hard to do their best both inside and outside of school, effectively communicate and are committed to improving their community.

YEA! will walk select students who fit this description through the entire business creation process - brain-storming ideas, writing business plans, pitching to potential investors and registering with governmental agencies - all the way to actually launching and running their business or social movement.

The YEA! curriculum is delivered by local leaders of industry, community members, educators and entrepreneurs. It provides students with a focused introduction to the business world that will help them transition successfully to adulthood; pursue their dreams by harnessing their creativity and energy; develop an entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills based on personal principles and values; and transform their ideas into tangible enterprises that create economic and social value for a better world.

The YEA! academic year begins Wednesday, Nov. 4, and continues throughout the rest of the 2015-16 school year. Classes will meet Wednesdays from 3-5:30 p.m. at Winston Campus Junior High. District 15 will provide transportation to these classes for students from Carl Sandburg, Plum Grove and Walter R. Sundling junior highs, but parents will be responsible for picking up students at the end of each class.

Up to six students at each District 15 junior high will be selected to participate in YEA! through an application and selection process run by the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce. Students who are interested in participating in YEA! must complete an application that will require them to respond to two short-answer questions and write a 300-word essay.

Students will also have to submit a current transcript and a letter of recommendation with their applications. All applications - electronic or paper - must be submitted along with a $20 application fee by Wednesday, Sept. 30, to be considered.

Students selected to participate in YEA! will be required to pay $125 to cover materials costs for the program. The $20 application fee will be applied to the $125 registration costs for students who are selected to participate in YEA!

Waivers for the application fee and scholarships for the program are available and will be awarded on the basis of need and merit. To inquire about these opportunities, contact Jeannette Sander, Winston Campus Junior High assistant principal, at (847) 963-7400 or sanderj@ccsd15.net.

YEA! applications can be completed online. Paper applications can also be printed from District 15's website or picked up in the main office at each junior high. Students should submit paper applications to their school's front office, and students seeking application fee waivers should complete and submit paper applications.

For more information, contact Mindy Phillips, Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce's YEA! program manager, at (847) 359-7200 or mphillips@palatinechamber.com, or Jeannette Sander, Winston Campus Junior High assistant principal, at (847) 963-7400 or sanderj@ccsd15.net.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.