Entrepreneurship in Action: Clarkson University Students Mentor Malone Middle School Students

About 140 eighth-grade students from Malone Middle School recently had the opportunity to hone their entrepreneurial skills and pitch their business ideas to students from Clarkson University's Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Program. The middle school students worked since the beginning of the school year to develop their business ideas, and Malone Middle School invited Clarkson students to help them refine their technique. The Clarkson students, including Briar Bonadonna and Josh Parker, acted as mentors and provided feedback to the middle school students, who in turn received valuable insights from their pitches.

Key Takeaways:

• 140 eighth-grade students from Malone Middle School participated in the entrepreneurship program, where they pitched their business ideas to Clarkson University students.
• The middle school students received feedback and guidance from Clarkson students Briar Bonadonna and Josh Parker, who are part of the Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Program.
• The program aims to teach entrepreneurship skills to students and expose them to the idea that they can be entrepreneurial themselves.
• The Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Competition at Clarkson University offers up to five students a chance to attend the university without tuition through a combination of merit-based financial aid and an ownership interest in their business ventures.
• Ashley Sweeney, assistant director of the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship, hopes more students will learn about the unique career and educational opportunities provided by entrepreneurship.
• The program is part of Clarkson University's effort to launch leaders into the global economy, with one in five alumni already leading as a CEO, VP, or equivalent senior executive of a company.

Statistics:

• 140: The number of eighth-grade students from Malone Middle School who participated in the entrepreneurship program.
• 2: The number of Clarkson students who acted as mentors and provided feedback to the middle school students, including Briar Bonadonna and Josh Parker.
• 5: The number of students who can participate in the Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Competition at Clarkson University, which offers a chance to attend the university without tuition.

Sources:

• Clarkson University press release
• Clarkson University's Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Program
• Ashley Sweeney, assistant director of the Reh Center for Entrepreneurship