Teams of high school student entrepreneurs created and operated their own businesses for a day this past July as part of the EntrePrep Summer Institute at the University of Delaware. Residing on campus for one week, 19 rising juniors and seniors - hailing from Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Mexico - received over 30 hours of classroom instruction before taking their ventures to the marketplace.

  

Administered by the CEEE with support from TD Charitable Foundation and Barclays Bank, EntrePrep provided participants with a foundation in economic principles and then taught them how to start and manage their own businesses with instruction in topics such as opportunity recognition, market research and financial planning.  

  

After four days of classroom preparation, discussions with volunteer guest speakers from the local business community and collaboration with their colleagues, students launched their businesses for a day in locations throughout Newark, Delaware. The program concluded with a formal Saturday presentation to staff, friends and family in which students evaluated the current market success of their enterprises, explored opportunities for growth, and projected the outlook for long-term success.

  

 

This past summer the CEEE presented three professional development workshops that gave Delaware teachers the tools to help students in grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 make sound personal finance decisions.

  

"Kid-Size Money Habits", the workshop for elementary teachers, implemented grade-appropriate books and class activities from the Financial Fitness for Life curriculum, focusing on topics such as human capital, scarcity, budgeting, saving and spending. Participating teachers received lessons and related educational materials.

  

"Setting the Stage for Financial Success: First Steps" provided middle school teachers with lessons and educational materials that addressed goal setting, budgeting, saving and investing. Citizens Bank's Beatrice Vuocolo and Dawn Lockridge role-played how to open and manage checking accounts.

  

"Equipping Students for Financial Independence: Begin the Journey" prepared high school teachers to nurture informed financial decision-making. University of Delaware's Dr. Nathan Franklin spoke about financing a college education and teachers received "How Much is Too Much," a lesson about paying for post-secondary education. Beatrice Vuocolo and Dawn Lockridge presented a session on "Learning to Drive a Checking Account." Robert Joseph, special investigator in the Delaware Department of Justice, and Reinaldo Ruiz, New Castle County Police detective, spoke about "Technology and Cybersecurity."   

  

The Delaware Financial Literacy Institute funded the professional development workshops with a grant from Citizens Bank.

  

Third- and fourth-grade teachers attended a lunch-and-learn session that introduced them to the six-video set. They met the Great Investo and Penny and received the video set and related lessons for use in their elementary classrooms.