MANSFIELD, Ohio — The Richland Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) has named Valeria Ashcraft, Director of Operations, Ohio Dreams Sports Action Camp, instructor for the 2015-2016 YEA! class, kicking off Nov. 4.
YEA! helps kids between 11 and 18 years old fine-tune their idea or invention, pitch for and secure funding, and start a real business, in less than 100 hours. There are more than 100 Academy locations nationwide.
Ashcraft is certainly no stranger to the entrepreneur scene. For the last eight years, she and her husband Chris have been running Ohio Dreams Action Sports Camp, a family business co-founded by the couple and Chris’ parents. The summer camp offers the ultimate sports experience for kids interested in skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, and BMX freestyle, just to name a few.
“I am so excited to be able to pass on what I have learned over the years to our next generation of CEOs,” said Ashcraft.
Throughout the year, students will work in close cooperation with local business leaders, community leaders and educators who use their personal experiences to demonstrate how to develop ideas and objectives, write a business plan, pitch potential investors, obtain funding, register with governmental agencies, establish e-commerce and a web presence, and much more. By the end of the class, students own and operate fully-formed and functioning businesses, which may be carried after their graduation from the program.
Ashcraft will work collaboratively with the Richland YEA!’s Program Manager, Bill Sharp, to provide the highest caliber of experiential learning to the students. Sharp serves as the Director of the Mansfield/Richland Area Education Foundation.
“Ashcraft’s dedication to the community and deep entrepreneurial knowledge make her a great role model for YEA! students,” says Sharp. “I look forward to collaborating with [her] in cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Classes are held weekly and begin Nov. 4 at North Central State College’s Kehoe Center, from 4-7 p.m. Student applications are being accepted until Wednesday, Oct. 21. Contact mrachamberfoundation@gmail.com or call 419-522-3211 x225 for more information.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is a 501(c)(3) offering groundbreaking year-long classes that teach middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses. Throughout the class, students develop business ideas, write business plans, conduct market research, pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and launch and run their own real, fully formed companies and social movements. The project-based program includes guest speakers from the local business community and behind-the-scenes trips to local companies and empowers students to take charge of their futures.
Founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester with support from the Kauffman Foundation, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy today serves thousands of students nationwide. In 2011, the United States Chamber of Commerce Foundation became a national sponsor and partner of the Academy to help celebrate the spirit of enterprise among today’s youth and tomorrow’sfuture leaders.
YEA! bridges the business and educational communities to fulfill its mission of teaching more students how to make a job, not just take a job. YEA! is made possible by the Kauffman Foundation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the E. Philip Saunders Foundation.