NC REAL Reaches 362 Students During National Entrepreneurship Week
NC REAL participated in three separate ‘Entrepreneurship Days’ in three NC Counties; Haywood, McDowell and Burke. All together 362 High School, Early College, and Middle School Students participated in the activities.
In Haywood County, on February 22, 2010 NC REAL introduced 190 high school and early college students to entrepreneurial thinking. Students participated in the “Trash to Treasure” REAL activity, and worked in teams to create a business idea from items of trash. At the end of the workshop, each team of students presented their business ideas to the entire group. This event was hosted with Haywood County Public Schools, Haywood Community College, and GA REAL.
In McDowell County, on February 24, 2010Eighty-seven high school and middle school students celebrated National Entrepreneurship Week. Alex Garcia, owner of Yogi Bear Campground, encouraged students to think entrepreneurially and never give up. Working in teams, students assessed their community’s needs, and their own interests to create business ideas. At the end of the workshop the students presented their business proposals to a panel of community leaders who awarded a prize for the best enterprise.
On the local McDowell high school radio program “Anything Goes”, the student broadcaster, who had participated in the Youth Entrepreneurship Day event, used the entire radio spot to talk about the Entrepreneurship Day activity, what he learned, and how much fun everyone had.
This event was also sponsored by McDowell Technical Community College-Small Business Center and McDowell County Public Schools.
In Burke County, on February 25, 2010, eighty-five Burke County high school students gathered at The Old Rock School in Valdese to celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week. Working in teams, students were encouraged to think like an entrepreneur by being creative and taking risks. The teams quickly become competitive about who had the most creative and sometimes most outrageous business ideas. Student teams presented their business proposals to the entire group, as even the quietest and most reserved students took part in developing the business. Beyond being a wonderful introduction to entrepreneurship, students developed teamwork skills, presentation skills, and self-confidence.
Sponsors included Western Piedmont Community College-Small Business Center, Burke County Public Schools, and Burke Partnership for Economic Development.
For more exciting stories celebrating National Entrepreneurship Week, visit The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education’s website at www.NationalEWeek.org