Student Opportunities

There’s Still Time to Get Started

Educators, it’s time to step up to the plate! Young Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge helps kids learn creativity, problem solving, critical thinking and presentation skills. Students compete individually or in teams of up to 4 to earn their place in our online showcase. This year’s contest is open for entries from now through Feb. 20, and offers more than $7,500 in prizes. Learn more about our new pitch category prizes! Or, get started now by registering your class.

Teen Accelerate Entries Due Jan. 18

In partnership with Cleveland Leadership Center’s Accelerate competition, we are excited to present Teen Accelerate: Student Citizens Make Change. If you know of any high school students interested in making a difference in the community, invite them to apply! Individual and team entries will be accepted through January 18, 2024. Learn more here.

ThinkBIG! Challenge Submissions Due Jan. 16

The thinkBIG! Competition is an online business plan contest open to all high school students in Northeast Ohio, offering $9,000 in prizes. Applications are due by Jan. 16. Finalists are invited to attend Executive Coaching and receive guidance from entrepreneurial professionals in the Cleveland business community. The final 6 teams will compete live at the thinkBIG! Summit on March 5, 2024. Learn more and submit your application here.

Stark County Pitch Competition

JA of North Central Ohio is excited to be a partner for this year’s Stark Tank: High School Edition. High school students in Stark County are invited to submit 60-90 second pitch videos of either conceptual or existing companies (two different contests) for the chance to pitch at a live Shark Tank night. Winners can win prizes of up to $2,000! Click the following links to view more info on the Conceptual Teams Contest, and the Existing Teams Contest.

Nominate a Student for a 4-Year US Scholarship

Each year University School awards up to ten fully-funded, four year scholarships to boys entering high school. Nominate a student entering grade nine in the fall of 2024. Submit your nomination here.

Worldwide Pitch Competition

The Blue Ocean Student Entrepreneur Competition is a virtual competition that attracts the very best high school-aged entrepreneurs from all over the world. Every year, thousands of high school students pitch their innovative business concepts to experienced entrepreneurs, receive feedback, join a community of like-minded students, and compete for thousands in cash prizes. The submission deadline is February 18. Learn more and register here.

Save the Date – Thurs. April 25!

We are thrilled to be hosting the annual Celebrate Youth Entrepreneurship at University School on Thursday, April 25, and we’d love to see you and your students there! Email us to save a spot for your class. Space will be limited, so keep an eye out for more details and registration coming soon.

Solve the Problems that Really Matter

The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship’s (NFTE) World Series of Innovation invites young people to get involved in solving some of the biggest challenges humanity faces today and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students can choose from a variety of challenges to change the world with entrepreneurial thinking.

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Educator Resources

January 25 Power Hour

Join us Thursday, Jan. 25 at 4:00 PM EST, for a Power Hour on Celebrating Black Entrepreneurship! Diondraya Taylor from Mindset & Milestones will be co-hosting this event and will demonstrate new resources that will help educators celebrate black entrepreneurs all year long. Khrisarian Irons from Element 26 Fitness, Ethan Holmes from Holmes Mouthwatering Applesauce, and Michelle Person from Just Like Me Presents will also be joining us to offer their unique perspective on this subject. Register for the Power Hour here.

Ignite, Inspire, Innovate Conference

Ignite, Inspire, Innovate: Transforming Futures Through Out-of-School Time is a two day event held Thurs. – Fri. Feb. 22 – 23, at the Quest Conference Center in Central Ohio. The conference theme reflects OAN’s mission to advocate for, support, and facilitate the development of quality, sustainable out-of-school time (OST) programs for Ohio’s youth and teens. Learn more and register here.

2024 Annual Conference

This year’s conference theme “Connect, Learn, Inspire: Empowering K-12 Students with Future-Ready Skills” unites educators, experts, and stakeholders in entrepreneurship education. It fosters networking and collaboration, shares best practices, and inspires through success stories. The conference takes place March 12-13 in Canonsburg, PA. Learn more and register here.

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YEI Is Hiring!

We’re searching for three new team members who are passionate and committed to building the entrepreneurial mindset in K-12 students! All three positions require full time in-person presence at the University School Hunting Valley Campus located at 2785 SOM Center Road. Please help us spread the word. Click the following links to see the full job descriptions for the Senior Program Manager, Event Coordinator. and Program Coordinator positions.

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Young Entrepreneur Pop-Up Market

Come shop till you drop with student businesses on Sunday, January 28th from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Northside Marketplace in Akron! 

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Free Resources for Educators through YIPPEE!

• Educators choose the products that work best for them
• Providers decide where and how they want to offer resources
• Sponsors decide how they will direct their support

When all three align, a match is made and educators get a grant – without any paperwork!

Learn what other educators think of YIPPEE here!

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Have an Event or Program to Highlight?

If you have an educator professional development event, useful curriculum, or opportunity for students to engage with the entrepreneurial mindset, please let us know. Feel free to email Evan Yule with any potential features to be included in our future newsletters, we’d love to hear from you!