A large part of Utah’s prosperity can be attributed to successful entrepreneurs and business owners who hire employees, bring innovative products to market, pay taxes, and create real value for our state.
However, entrepreneurial skills and ambition must be passed on to each new generation. Now there is an excellent program at the high school level designed to encourage young entrepreneurs and help them learn the principles, skills and discipline necessary for success.
Youth Entrepreneurs, a national program being introduced in Utah, has been adopted successfully in 29 states. The Eccles family, with a long history of business leadership and philanthropy in Utah, has helped facilitate the Utah launch.
Hope Eccles told me her family is enthusiastic about Youth Entrepreneurs not just because it teaches entrepreneurial skills, but also because students learn life skills, including ethics, perseverance, resiliency and strength of character. High school students become more proficient in problem-solving and critical thinking.
She said that while entrepreneurship is vital to a vibrant economy, her focus is on the young people whose personal lives are changed, especially those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. A great business environment will be a bonus as students learn business and life skills, along with financial literacy.
Youth Entrepreneurs is a high school course developed by trained educators and business leaders. The flexible program can be adopted by individual teachers, a school or school district. It fits with other curriculum and in many cases should fulfill curriculum requirements such as financial literacy.
With the support of philanthropic organizations like the Eccles Foundation, the program, including supplies and teacher materials, is provided at no cost to teachers and schools.
A few Utah teachers have piloted the program, and 40 high school teachers from across the state participated in training on Feb. 22 at Utah State University. They were enthusiastic about the program and excited to start teaching it.
One Utah teacher who took the training said, ”This program is right on track. Love the truly interactive format; the curriculum is the key ... love the foundational values, how you bring them back into the conversation through debriefing of each activity. Thank you for the opportunity to participate.”
Hope Eccles noted that great teachers are key to the program. Trained educators who know how to inspire and excite help students gain confidence and motivation to believe in themselves. The goal is to be teaching youth entrepreneurship in 20 Utah schools beginning next fall.
The Youth Entrepreneurs program complements other innovative high school and college business training initiatives in Utah. These include the High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, which offers $30,000 is cash and prizes, and the college-level Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, which offers $100,000 in cash and prizes. These competitions are managed by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah and sponsored by Zions Bank.
Other excellent programs include the Utah Real Estate Challenge, hosted by the Ivory-Boyer Real Estate Center at the U., and the Bench to Bedside competition at the U.’s Center for Medical Innovation, which introduces students to medical technology innovation. And, for younger children, Junior Achievement programs foster work-readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy skills.
Together, these fine programs have great potential to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Hope Eccles noted that the Youth Entrepreneurs program bridges the gap between textbook learning and practical application. Hands-on learning empowers students and prepares them for success in the workplace and in life. Entrepreneurial skills benefit all employees, not just those who start businesses. Business owners understand the value of employees who are willing and able to think outside the box.
Hope Eccles said the Eccles family has seen the impact of the program on the lives of students and believes that Utah young people will benefit tremendously from it.
Learn more about Youth Entrepreneurs at www.youthentrepreneurs.org.
A. Scott Anderson is CEO and president of Zions Bank.