February 17, 2006

Media Advisory – Elementary Entrepreneurship

Forty-four Carbondale elementary school students next week will begin an intensive entrepreneurship curriculum co-sponsored by the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, part of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Office of Economic and Regional Development. Working with Lewis School teacher Betsy Brown, the center will conduct special projects with the fourth and fifth graders, culminating in a business plan contest at the end of the school year.

The first major activity, a business etiquette dinner, is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the SIUC Student Center's Ballroom D. Students will participate in a formal multi-course dinner and be introduced to a variety of etiquette topics.

Future activities will include speakers from locally owned businesses, a marketing day field trip to SIUC's Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, and an international business luncheon.

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover Tuesday evening's business etiquette dinner. For more information, contact Emily J. Carter, director of the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center at 618/453-5755.