FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Meredith Smith 
Communications Manager
703-525-2400
20 AREA STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY PROGRAM
Arlington, VA The Arlington Chamber of Commerce kicked off the 2015-2016 academic year of t he Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) on Wednesday, October 28  with a parent and student orientation. 20 of the best and brightest middle and high school students with entrepreneurial spirit will be participating the program. These students range in age from 11-18 years old and represent schools from across the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
 
A group of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Arlington 2015-2016 students gather for a photo after orientation.
A competitive application process required students to complete an essay, write responses to short answer questions, submit their school transcripts and a reference, and participate in an in-person interview prior to acceptance into the program.

"We look forward to seeing what these students will accomplish this year with the help of our dedicated membership," said  Kate Roche , President & CEO of the  Arlington Chamber of Commerce . "YEA! offers numerous opportunities for business leaders to share their experience and talents with these budding entrepreneurs, providing the students with high level professional mentoring while building their entrepreneurial spirit."

Classes will be held at  Marymount University  and instructed by  Charlie Sibbald , Adjunct Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at  Marymount University Throughout the year students will work in close cooperation with local business leaders, community leaders and educators who use their personal experiences to demonstrate how to develop business ideas and objectives, write a business plan, pitch to investors, obtain funding, register with government agencies, establish e-commerce and a web presence, and more.  By the end of the 28-week class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program.
 
For more information about sponsorship or volunteer opportunities with YEA!, please contact the Chamber at 703-525-2400 or by email at engagement@arlingtonchamber.org.
 
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is made possible thanks to our sponsors , including 
Premier Partner TMI 2.0, Inc.
and University Partner Marymount University .
   
ABOUT THE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS ACADEMY (YEA!) ARLINGTON

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Arlington is a groundbreaking and exciting program presented by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce that transforms middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and social movements. For more information about the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Arlington, please call 703-525-2400. 

 

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy national program was founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation and today serves thousands of students in communities across America. 


ABOUT THE ARLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
   
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Founded in 1924, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a member-centric, volunteer-based, non-profit organization of over 700 businesses committed to the economic and civic well being of the community. For more information or to become a member, visit
www.arlingtonchamber.org
 

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