West Virginia State University News November 2, 2012 Entrepreneurship classes prepare next generation of business-savvy youth Entrepreneurship classes prepare next generation of business-savvy youth High School Students Receive College Credit in WVSU Program They're growing industry tycoons from the schoolyards in Wyoming County where the Youth Entrepreneurship Education Program is providing business education to students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Wyoming County high school students are receiving college credit from West Virginia State University in a new youth entrepreneurship program being piloted in the region. "Studies have shown that integrating entrepreneurship into our schools increases performance in all subject areas," said Steve Clark, WVSU extension agent for Economic Development. "The impact on our school system would be significant and measurable. The impact on our economy would be tremendous." Entrepreneurship instruction is provided to fourth- and eighth-grade students, with an added career-planning track for eighth graders. An early-enrollment Introduction to Entrepreneurship course, providing college credit at WVSU, is being offered to high school students at two Wyoming County high schools. "This project is allowing us to bring entrepreneurship into our schools and educate our youth not only about the option of creating a job as an alternative to getting a job, but also the entrepreneurial mindset," said Clark. "Students learn that their future is their responsibility and that they have what it takes to succeed if they are willing to work hard and think entrepreneurially." Clark, who teaches the courses, is also launching an Entrepreneurship Club at one high school. The club will receive $1,000 in start-up funding for a business they will run for the year. Additional courses are being taught at the Wyoming County Career and Technical School covering business, personal finance and in-depth business planning. A $5,000 start-up loan will be offered to students in the planning course who have qualifying business plans. WVSU Extension Service is partnering with the Department of Education, Wyoming County Schools and the Wyoming County Economic Development Authority on the pilot project, with the goal of expanding it into other counties. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.