Young Entrepreneurs: Local Teens Learn How to Run Businesses Over Summer Break

After a long summer of fun and freedom, it’s time for area students to get back to school. But, not all students used their summer vacation as a break from learning. A group of 31 Centre County high school students spent a week focusing on their futures at Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week.

The program, which is held annually on the campuses of Lycoming College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Lycoming County, has been around for 40 years. During the week, participants learn to appreciate the free enterprise system and also see, from a practitioner’s perspective, what it takes to be successful in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. 

During the program, students compete in management teams of 18 to 19 students and run a simulated business. The 24 teams are comprised of students from around the state representing eight different industries.

The students run a company through 12 quarters using a computer simulation. At the conclusion of the week, they present to their stockholders, who are guest judges from the business community, how the company did and what they learned. They also create a marketing/advertising campaign for their industry’s product. 

Lesley Kistner, vice president of communications/marketing for the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County, has volunteered as a company adviser for a student-led team for the past six years. She said students should be applauded for spending a week of their summers learning about business and leadership. According to Kistner, any student can benefit from the program.

“Foremost, I volunteer for PFEW because I think it is important for young people to have a better understanding of the free market system and what it takes to run a business, the teamwork and leadership required and the decisions that have to be made in order to be successful,’ said Kistner. “Many of the students who attend desire to be entrepreneurs. In fact, some already are. However, the lessons learned at PFEW are valuable regardless of career path.

‘For many students, their week at PFEW is about personal growth. Students are not placed in companies with friends or others from their school. In essence, they have a ‘clean slate.’ They are empowered to step out of their comfort zone to take on leadership roles within their company, to speak up, to share ideas and contribute — things they might be reluctant to do in front of their peers at their school back home, or they never realized they had it within themselves to do so. As a volunteer, it is rewarding to hear students say that, personally, they have been positively changed because of PFEW.”

Throughout the week, students hear presentations from world-class speakers  on a wide variety of topics, including leadership, communications, ethics, relationship of business and government, entrepreneurship and job readiness, to help prepare them for their future careers.

Centre County controller Chuck Witmer has volunteered as a company adviser for 19 years. He said that every year he comes back from his volunteer week refreshed and  with more energy because of the positive strides the students make.

“I always joke that I get more out of it then they do,” said Witmer.

According to Witmer, the students get a chance to learn about business and life.

“They meet new people, develop new friends. For many of them, it is their first time away from home on a college campus and we treat them like adults. When they get there, they have no idea what a balance sheet or income statement is, but by the end of the week they are preparing these documents. It is amazing what these kids learn.”

State College student Haskel Canagarajah was glad to get the opportunity and said he would recommend it to other students to get a better understanding of how business works in real life.

“At PFEW, I was able to get experience in real business decision-making, and through this experience I was able to learn what really drives a business and its success,” he said. Canagarajah also said the speakers made a real impact on him.

“The lessons the speakers at PFEW gave will probably be what truly sticks with me in life. To be grateful for each day you live and to make the most of every opportunity you are given, to take risks and to not be afraid to challenge the status quo.”

Students attend PFEW via a $625 scholarship donated by companies’ foundations, civic organizations and individuals from across the state looking to support the students and provide them a foundation in free enterprise. Many Centre County businesses and organizations, including University Wine Company, offer support for the burgeoning entrepreneurs. Jeff Proch, owner of the company, went to PFEW when he was a student at State High and it was the first step toward him starting his business.

“Going to PFEW was sort of the start of my interest in free enterprise,’ he said. ‘I ended up going to school for business, and later starting my own business. So it was pretty impactful.’

Proch also said it was helpful to receive a scholarship, supported by local business owners and groups, that made it possible for him to attend PFEW. Now a successful business owner, he is glad to help out the young students who are in the spot where he once was.
PFEW is open to students who are going into their junior or senior year of high school. This year, State College High School reached PFEW’s Platinum Level by having 21 or more graduates. Currently, 22 schools have reached that level.

In addition to Canagarajah, participants from State College Area High School were: Rachel Ahn, Sarah Barber, Ryan Battista, Angelica Blaine, Krista Chen, Alinda Cheung, Benjamin Curtin, Nicholas Daltrui, Sequoia  Falcone, Jason Fang, Michael Heim, Saoirse Hopp, Emily Hu, Samuel Krantweiss, Hailee Leister, Lily Maxwell, Aidan McCann, Rufino Mendez, Jacob Sholtis, Alec Simin, Sam Storll, Latif Sushin, Alexa Thies and Jakob Twoey.

Bald Eagle Area High School participants were Allison Cowan, Weston Eppley, Paige Murgas and Lindsey Reynolds. 

Alexander Boeckel and Ryan Johnson represented Penns Valley High School.