Ohio Business Week Local students accepted to YSU program

Staff report

Youngstown

Several Mahoning County high school students have been accepted to Ohio Business Week 2012 at Youngstown State University.

Austintown Fitch High School sophomore Hailey Waltenbaugh, Mineral Ridge High School junior Chris DiRando, Mahoning County Career & Technical Center juniors Devin Betsa and Bryce Gaetano and South Range High School Senior Jake Dattilio will participate in the weeklong residential summer opportunity for high school students from around the state to gain valuable hands-on experience with business and entrepreneurship in a college setting.

“OBW provides an experience beyond what students can learn in a conventional high school classroom,” said Ohio Business Week Foundation Executive Director John Davis.

At OBW, students are assigned to a “company” with 10 to 12 other students from across the state as they embark on the Emerging Entrepreneur Project. Each company elects officers; researches and writes business, financial and marketing plans; designs a Web page; constructs a trade show display; and creates an advertising campaign. Participants engage in interactive activities designed to teach fundamental business concepts and prepare them to be competitive in a global marketplace.

“What makes Ohio Business Week so beneficial is that students execute the entire business start-up process, from product inception right down to the investment pitch, so they are able to make business decisions and truly learn through real-world experience,” said Davis.

Each student accepted to attend Ohio Business Week is awarded a $500 scholarship from a local business or community organization to cover 60 percent of the cost for meals, housing and materials. Students are asked to pay a $350 commitment fee.

Financial aid is available to those who cannot afford to pay the full fee. The application deadline has been extended to May 30.

The Ohio Business Week Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization founded in 1988 to provide high school students from across Ohio with hands-on experience in the American free enterprise system. At the conclusion of the program educational scholarships are awarded to students who display exceptional leadership, community service and entrepreneurial skills.

Ohio Business Week 2012 will be at YSU from June 24-30 and at Ohio Dominican University from July 8-14.