Thirty-seven high school students from 16 high schools across the state will spend a week immersed in the world of entrepreneurship to learn about creating a start-up company.
The 9th annual Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TESA), sponsored by the Richard M. and Helen DeVos Center for Entrepreneurship at Grand Valley State University and Amway, will take place June 22-26, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the L. Willliam Seidman Center in Grand Rapids.
Idea presentations and awards will take place June 26 from 3-5 p.m. This year's theme is centered on the arts.
The week-long academy is packed with interactive lectures, team-building activities, hands-on research, field trips, networking with local entrepreneurs and strategic planning for personal aspirations. The camp introduces students — ninth grade through freshman year in college — to idea generation, problem solving, marketing techniques, management philosophies, financial strategies, presentation skills and much more as it relates to launching a new business.
The academy concludes with a pitch competition where students showcase their new entrepreneurship talents before a panel of professional judges for a chance to win an iPad, Beats by Dre headphones and cash prizes totaling $5,000.
Amway employees will help mentor and coach the student
teams throughout the week.
For more information, contact the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Grand Valley at [email protected] or (616) 331-7582.
