West Virginia high school students will have the opportunity to earn six hours of college credit this summer during the inaugural Governor’s School of Entrepreneurship (GSE) at Marshall University, July 5-26. The program is free to all West Virginia residents.
The GSE is a three-week educational session geared toward students enrolled in the ninth through 11th grades. Sixty students from across the state are set to participate alongside international students from China, according to Dr. Jonathan Butler, director of Marshall’s entrepreneurship program.
“We want to give these students the chance to expand their thinking, not just about building small businesses and supporting local economies but about global opportunities as well,” says Butler. “This is an amazing partnership between Marshall University’s Lewis College of Business and the Department of Education and the Arts, and we look forward to creating a fantastic atmosphere for both our regional and international students.”
Participants will be divided into teams of six and will learn about business models and basic concepts of entrepreneurship. Each team will be tasked with developing a business plan, which they will pitch to a panel of investors during their second week.
“We have $15,000 available for all teams to create their businesses. This is like ‘Shark Tank’—each team will be funded in different amounts depending on their ideas,” says Butler. “Teams have to compete based on revenues, and after two weeks, they will create their business. At the very end of the program, we have partnered with the City of Huntington to have a weekend festival where we will take over several empty buildings and have students set up shop and sell their products or services.”
In coordination with GSE, students with a 3.0 GPA can earn up to six hours of college credit upon completing the required GSE digital badges. Students who choose this option will pay only $35 to cover registration and transcription costs. Applications are due Wednesday, March 30.
Open positions are available for team leaders who possess a background in business or an interest in entrepreneurship. Team leaders will receive $5,000 and free room and board during the three-week GSE session.
According to Butler, Marshall is the pilot location for this project. Currently, Marshall University offers the only undergraduate major in entrepreneurship in West Virginia.
For more information about GSE, visit www.wvgse.org or email Sherry Keffer, director of Governor’s Schools at sherry.l.keffer@wv.gov or Butler at butlerjo@marshall.edu.
About the Author
Megan Archer is a communications specialist for Marshall University. She currently serves as a board member for the Scottish Rite Foundation, Inc. and as an active volunteer for United Way of the River Cities, Inc., Little Victories Animal Shelter and the Marshall University Lose the Training Wheels program.
