Young entrepreneurs to be recognized at lunch awards program

July 25, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — At a lunch this Friday, the University of Florida will recognize 38 high school juniors and seniors participating in the Young Entrepreneurs for Leadership & Sustainability pre-college summer program.

Between noon and 2 p.m., the students will be joined by their parents and guests while they are recognized for their accomplishments during the five-week summer program held at UF.

The students will have completed two college level courses, performed more than 85 hours of community service each, and met with successful entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs and community leaders. The students also participated in evening programs including a speaker series featuring notable leaders in the fields of entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, a mentor program, as well as a plethora of activities and field trips that encouraged additional engaging experiences outside the classroom.

Students will have completed more than 3,740 hours of community service in the Gainesville area in five weeks, contributing $79,886 of value. Students volunteered with local organizations including Phoenix Neighborhood Afterschool Program, Shands Hospital Arts in Medicine, Alachua Conservation Trust, Citizens Co-op/Cooperative Communities, Wilmot Gardens at Shands Hospital, Swallowtail Farm CSA, St. John’s County/St. Augustine Beach, Current Problems/Adopt-a-River, and Slow Food Gainesville.

In 2010 the program ran entirely carbon neutral, they calculated their own footprint of 20.5 tons and engaged in environmentally-related service (like planting trees with Alachua Conservation Trust) that offset 21.7 tons, for a net footprint of -1.2 tons. They aim to do the same again this year and will announce their results at the awards lunch.

The lunch will be held in the President’s Room of Emerson Alumni Hall, 1938 W. University Ave. Scott Fore, a scholarship sponsor, of NobleHour.com will be the keynote speaker.

This is the only summer program in the United States developed specifically for high school students to learn about entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability. It launched in 2007 with just 19 students. This year, more than 160 students applied and there was a waiting list.

Please visit http://www.ufyoungentrepreneurs.org/ for additional information on the program.