February 14, 2008

Youth to discover business world during SIUC program

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Today's elementary students could well be THE business leaders of tomorrow.

A group of 54 Carbondale elementary students will begin getting the tools that could enable that to happen next week in an intensive entrepreneurship curriculum co-sponsored by the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Office of Economic and Regional Development. The center, in conjunction with Betsy Brown, academically talented teacher at Lewis School, will sponsor special projects for local fourth- and fifth-grade students during the rest of the school year.

The first major activity is a business etiquette dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Old Main Restaurant in the SIUC Student Center. The young future entrepreneurs will participate in a multi-course dinner as they encounter a variety of topics pertaining to business etiquette.


Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the youth business etiquette dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 at the SIUC Student Center's Old Main Restaurant.


In coming weeks, students will hear guest speakers from locally owned businesses and enjoy a marketing field trip to the SIUC College of Business and Administration, where they'll create business cards and marketing materials. They also will participate in an international business luncheon at Hunan Restaurant.

The learning experience will culminate at the end of this school year with a business plan contest for the young business leaders of the future.

For more information about this innovative youth entrepreneurship program, contact the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center at 618/453-3805.