Young Entrepreneurship Program students proudly gather after receiving certificates at the luncheon.

In the March issue  we reported on the expansion of Pathways' Young Entrepreneurship Program to put more emphasis on the experience of women in business.  This drew the first group of five young women students from three Pathways sites to participate in the program.(Click here to read the archive copy.) A luncheon on May 2 celebrated the success of these women and the ongoing accomplishments of the Young Entrepreneurship Program, which are many.

The program began at Pathways in 2007 in order to give students hands-on experience in beginning and growing an owner-operated business.  It is remarkable first because the curriculum designed by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) takes students step-by-step in real time through the process.  Second, the workshops are led by current successful business-owners who are able to teach from experience.  The program is exceptional in building relationships with the local business community and drawing on its strengths and wisdom for the benefit of Pathways students.

The luncheon celebrated all of that, and more.  Founders of the YEP, Charlie Grant and Kevin Logan, who received Pathways Community Partner of the Year award in 2011, emceed the luncheon program.  The business owners who had taught the YEP classes and guided the students through the work were present to hand the students their certificates.  The proceedings were appreciated and supported by an impressive array of businesses, organizations, city government officials, and agencies; many of whom had representatives present.

The real stars of the afternoon however were the students themselves.   These young people had persevered through a challenging curriculum. They arrived at the end with increased confidence and a sense that their dreams were possible if they worked hard and used the know-how gained by listening to and learning from experience.  They proudly took the luncheon attendees through a PowerPoint demonstrating their step-by-step development of a small business; and even more proudly they accepted their certificates knowing that they had achieved a significant milestone toward future success in business and in life.

Showing skill of horse and rider

Stories abound that illustrate the success of this program, most recently in last month's issue of The Pathfinder.  It told how students from Pathways-Northwood, who had just completed the program, were able to coach and inspire a reluctant new student from Pathways-Springville to approach his horse and ride.  (Click here to read the archive copy.) Now that student, and others, have themselves finished with flying colors and were able to demonstrate their new skills and confidence in the closing ceremony earlier this month.