The Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the inaugural Central Palm Beach Young Entrepreneurs Academy classes will be held at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Wellington campus on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and all signature events will be hosted by Keiser University at its West Palm Beach flagship campus.
“We specifically chose these two universities because of their reputation for academic excellence and emphasis on community involvement,” Program Director Martina Sanchez said.
YEA is an afterschool program in which students brainstorm and form enterprises, make pitches to real investors, obtain funding, register companies with governmental agencies, and by the end, actually launch their own businesses or social movements. Business mentors and local entrepreneurs across a variety of industries will support the students throughout the program. All of the learning is real and experiential. Applications are currently being accepted, and the deadline to apply is Oct. 1. To apply, visit www.cpbchamberyea.org.
“We are so proud to be able to host the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at Palm Beach Atlantic University,” President William M.B. Fleming Jr. said. “This program will be such a positive influence on students in our local community, and will provide an innovative, challenging and fulfilling experience for everyone involved.”
Both large and small businesses can volunteer their time as business mentors, field trip hosts, guest lecturers, graphic designers, web developers, attorneys and more. Community support strengthens the program, and the academy strengthens the community.
“This experience is something students will be able to apply to any field they choose to enter, and will provide them with the necessary skills to become future leaders of their industries,” said Mary Lou Bedford, CEO of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.
Though this is the chamber’s first year running the program, YEA has a robust 10-year history of success across the nation. Some impressive statistics include: 100 percent of academy graduates go on to graduate from high school on time, 99 percent of academy graduates enroll in college and YEA students have been awarded millions of dollars in scholarships through program participation.
“Keiser University’s flagship campus in West Palm Beach is pleased and excited to join with the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce to host a number of YEA events on our campus for the 2015-16 academic year,” President Tom Duncan said. “Keiser has always been an entrepreneurial university, and we are excited to share our campus with students who share this entrepreneurial spirit.”
The Central Palm Beach Young Entrepreneurs Academy is run through the Central Palm Beach Community Foundation, the chamber’s nonprofit arm. The deadline to apply is Oct. 1, and 24 seats are available to students ages 11 to 18 in Palm Beach County. For more information on how to become involved, visit www.cpbchamberyea.org.
