April 25, 2012
Young entrepreneurs to put products to the test
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A group of young entrepreneurs will put to the test what they learned in a semester-long project involving Southern Illinois University Carbondale as they offer products and services at the Carbondale Farmer’s Market on Saturday, April 28.
The students will be at the market, in the Westtown Plaza parking lot, from 8 a.m. to noon. They are the result of a project bringing assistance from the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center to the fourth- and fifth-grade academically talented classes at Lewis School in Carbondale taught by Betsy Brown.
Media Advisory
Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover the Lewis School young entrepreneurs participating in the Carbondale Farmer’s Market on Saturday, April 28. They will be at the market, in the Westtown Plaza parking lot, from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information contact Robyn Laur Russell at 618/453-3805 or rrussell@biz.siu.edu.
Throughout the semester, Brown and the staff from the center, a unit of the University’s Office of Economic and Regional Development, worked with the children to enhance their business knowledge and expertise. Members of the SalukiCEO Corps, a campus registered student organization, assisted as well.
Along with classroom presentations and learning exercises, the students participated in a variety of special activities that included hearing guest speakers, an etiquette dinner at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, and an international luncheon at a local restaurant.
The group of 51 young business people also created their products or services and, with assistance from the Entrepreneurship Center staff, produced logo designs and business cards for promotional purposes.
The final activities for the middle school entrepreneurs this semester will be business plan presentations at Lewis School May 8 and an awards presentation May 24 during the Lewis School awards assembly.
For more information about the innovative youth entrepreneurship program or the other entrepreneurship initiatives, services and programs available at the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, contact Robyn Laur Russell by calling 618/453-3805 or emailing rrussell@biz.siu.edu.