YEA! Program Background

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is an intensive program that teaches high school and middle school students how to start and run their own REAL businesses.  YEA! was developed at the University of Rochester in 2004 with the support of a grant from the Kauffman Foundation (www.yeausa.org).  The Mount Prospect Chamber is excited to offer YEA! for the third year to the Mount Prospect Community, Prospect High School, Lincoln Middle School, and River Trails Middle School students!

YEA! guides participants through the process of starting and running a legitimate business or social movement over the course of the academic year. YEA! has graduated almost 600 students over the past 7 years, who have started almost 450 businesses and social movements!  YEA! graduates start as students, and leave the program as CEOs of their own companies!

Over the course of the program, students:

• Brainstorm business ideas
• Write a business plan
• Interact with business professionals
• Pitch their business plan to potential “investors” (think Shark Tank meets the Apprentice meets American Idol)
• Obtain funding
• Legally register their businesses
• Participate in a Trade Show
• Launch their own businesses or social movements 
  
   

Why Apply?

This program offers students the chance to:

• Develop the skills necessary to launch their own business or social movement (hands-on entrepreneurial experience!)
• Learn about real businesses - why they succeed or fail.
• Hear from local entrepreneurs.
• Launch their own business or social movement!
• Become more confident in their ideas and their abilities.

Organization of Program

YEA! classes will meet November through April, every Wednesday from 3:00 - 5:45 p.m. 
Applications will be accepted from District 214 high school students, Lincoln Middle School, and River Trails Middle School 6 - 8th grade students for the class of 2015.

There are no classes during regular school holidays and recesses. Students are taught by an instructor, but are exposed to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs and business mentors. The class goes on field trips to a variety of local businesses. Finally, the students participate in three major events throughout the year: the Investor Panel, Trade Show and a Graduation Ceremony. 

Student Selection Process

To apply for YEA!, students must:

• Fill out the YEA! application
• Complete the essay and the short answer questions
• Submit their transcripts
• Submit a letter of recommendation

Once the completed application packet is received, students will be asked to come in for an interview. Acceptance in the program is based on all aspects of an application, as well as the personal interview. Prior experience with business is not required!

To nominate a student, please complete a nomination form.
 

How Business Professionals Can Get Involved

Through their interactions with business professionals during the year, YEA! students gain some of the most important knowledge and experience they need to succeed. Local professionals volunteer their time and expertise as guest speakers, mentors, investors, graphic designers, field trip hosts, business plan reviewers, and much more. The time YEA! students spend with adults who encourage their futures is invaluable, and participants often report getting even more out of their participation than they put in to it!

If you are interested in becoming involved with YEA! as a guest speaker, fieldtrip host, or volunteer, contact Dawn at (847) 398-6616 or email dawn@mountprospectchamber.org. For sponsorship opportunities, please see the sponsor levels. Custom sponsor packages may be created - please contact the Chamber.

Sponsors

A big thank you to our returning sponsors!

Community Corporate Partner:
Robert Bosch Tool Company

Banking Partner:
 American Chartered Bank