At the MANSEF scholarship luncheon, Jequay displays his award. His brother is on left. Also pictured are Kay Greany, Principal of Pathways-DuVal Re-Entry and Pathways Director of Programs, Dr. Tania DuBeau

Pathways DuVal Re-Entry senior Jequay Davis is a guitarist and music technician who has played frequently at school events. He volunteers in DuVal's music department, working with the sound board and recording equipment during performances.   He has a part-time position doing the same for his church. His creativity flows from his music into other areas, chiefly writing and poetry.

Serious about his art, Jequay is equally earnest about his studies. This year he took two Honors classes in English Literature and Geometry and an AP Literature class in the last two years. He was inducted into DuVal High School's chapter of the National Honor Society in his junior year.

Jequay is the recipient of a Michael Cardin scholarship from the Maryland Association of Nonpublic Special Education Facilities (MANSEF) and a scholarship from DuVal High School's PTA. He plans to attend the University of Maryland in the fall.

Students in the Young Entrepreneurship Program pose proudly with their certificates at the annual concluding luncheon. YEP co-founder Kevin Logan is at right; co-founder Charlie Grant, also in suit and tie, is in the middle. Donald Hart, wearing a pale blue shirt, is next to him.

Opportunity, creativity and industriousness came together in a big way for Pathways-Edgewood student Donald Hart this semester. Searching for a way to try out his budding entrepreneurial skills, he hit on the idea of a mobile car wash business. He had noticed that lots of groups like sports teams or choirs held fund-raising car washes, and he thought he could turn the idea into something that would benefit others while getting his own small business off the ground. He needed a space and a water source. He and a friend put together a proposal and approached the pastor of a local church that had both a large parking lot and an outdoor spigot. The church location on a busy road in Prince George's County was ideal. The proposal, that Donald and his friend would wash cars for a fee at stated hours in the parking lot and donate ten percent of the profits to the church's ministries, was accepted. Donald advertised in the neighborhood and put signs up at the church. He and his friend washed cars during three or four days each week, charging $10 for cars and $15 for trucks. They grossed more than $1,600.

Donald was encouraged in his efforts by his participation in the Young Entrepreneurship Program (YEP), which has been at Pathways for four years. YEP is a comprehensive, hands-on program to teach students how to start and succeed with a business. Experienced business owners provide the students with instruction, guidance and advice following a curriculum that takes students through the steps from idea to market. While YEP is there to offer knowledge and support, it is up to the students themselves to make something of what they are learning and put it into practice.

YEP has been a great asset for Pathways, each year expanding further to include students from all the Pathways schools. Last year, founders Charlie Grant and Kevin Logan received our Community Partner of the Year Award in recognition of the success of the program. The end of year luncheon and ceremony to award certificates of completion is always an occasion to reward students for their ingenuity and persistence and to acknowledge the ongoing benefit of the Young Entrepreneurship Program. This year more than 50 representatives from area small businesses and corporations attended the event, which is a networking opportunity both for the businesses and for Pathways students who can make connections with employers and potential investors.