Young Entrepreneurs Academy in Full Swing!
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, is a class sponsored by The Blair County Chamber of Commerce that teaches 11–18 year old students how to start and run their own business or non-profit organization. The class has been meeting weekly since October at Penn State Altoona’s Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence. This is the second year for the local program and this year’s class includes 15 students from Altoona, Bellwood, Bishop Guilfoyle, Great Commission, Hollidaysburg, and Spring Cove schools. The program is open to all students in Blair County schools.
The YEA! class provides students with introductions to local entrepreneurs and business leaders; exciting field trips to businesses for a behind-the-scenes experience; and meetings with attorneys, accountants, marketing professionals, graphic designers, manufacturers, Internet specialists, and more. In January, the students visited Forever Broadcasting to understand marketing and advertising principles, learn about different radio markets, and determining which radio station is right for their business or product’s target audience.
Students are preparing a real business plan and will pitch their plan to investors for funding on April 3, 2018, from 6–8 p.m. at the Devorris Downtown Center, which is open to the public. The winner will then compete in the Saunders Scholars National Competition on May 4 in Rochester, NY. Think “Shark Tank” meets “The Apprentice”—the YEA! class teaches students how to embrace their passion, live their dream, and change the world.
Bootcamp Competition
The culmination of the 8-week fall Bootcamp will be the Business Plan Competition. The announcement will be made this month at Altoona LaunchBox. The winner will be awarded $10,000 to further their business venture. Stay tuned!
Upcoming Program
Small Business Express (SBX) Lending Program
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
4:30–5:30 p.m.
Altoona LaunchBox, 1331 12th Avenue, Suite 103, Altoona, PA 16601
Presenter: Lindsey Riley, Personal Banker, Reliance Bank
Learn about the fast track to small business loans with Small Business Express (SBX) loans, the lending process that helps your small business receive loans quicker, easier, and more efficiently.
FREE and open to the public. For more information, please call Altoona LaunchBox at 814-949-5500.
Spotlight on Sheetz Fellows President Logan McHale
Logan McHale is a senior in the Sheetz Fellows Program, scheduled to graduate in May with a job already secured at Frito Lay in Fort Collins, CO! Logan networked with Sheetz Fellow alum Jacob Byers about a position in the company where Jacob interned last summer. Logan credits the Sheetz Fellows Program with helping him to get this job offer, specifically his interactions with Steve Sheetz, learning through real-life work and project experiences, and developing his interpersonal and leadership skills through the program’s classes and networking opportunities. As Sheetz Fellows president for three semesters, he believes running the 50-student program on a weekly basis, plus strategically planning for the program’s future have given him experience that set him apart from the competition.
One of Logan’s favorite experiences with the program was attending the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization (CEO) National Conference. It was there that he learned that everyone has a unique story, and it was Prof. Donna Bon and Mr. Sheetz who challenged him to create his own unique story. From there, Logan became one of the founding brothers of Alpha Phi Delta fraternity at Penn State Altoona. He and another Sheetz Fellow, Bill Butterfield, launched Pock Clothing, an online clothing store, in January. Logan says he’s applying Sheetz Fellows’ entrepreneurship and leadership skills to grow the business and learn from challenges along the way. His dream is to one day work for Patagonia because he believes in the company’s product, brand, and social values. Logan says he never wants to stop creating and growing new ideas so he can one day have his own TedTalk.
Class Projects
On Sunday, February 25, 2018 Pink Zone will be joining the Lady Lions of Penn State University to raise money for the individuals and families affected by breast cancer. With the help from the senior class of the Sheetz Fellows, they are looking to sell out the Bryce Jordan Center for the women’s basketball game. The seniors have been working to improve the Pink Zone’s website, creating a newsletter, and creating a bus wrap with an unforgettable slogan. For more information, visit http://papinkzone.org/ to read what Pink Zone is all about, survivor stories, and how many people they are able to help. The senior class is hoping their efforts boost awareness for the cause and the event to help the Pink Zone assist breast cancer patients and families.
The junior class of Sheetz Fellows has been tasked with raising the funds to support, as well as to implement, an additional Born Learning Trail in Blair County. This project seeks to bring communities together through providing educational opportunities and early learning activities, while spreading literacy, environmental awareness, and engagement in our youth. The class will be working directly in partnership with the United Way of Blair County to raise funds and ultimately establish a second Born Learning Trail to be opened in May 2018. For more information about the Born Learning Trail program, visit https://www.bornlearning.org/
Entrepreneur-In-Residence
Mr. Barry Newborn
President, Newborn Enterprises, Inc.
Penn State Altoona students had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Barry Newborn in January. The EIR program provides students with opportunities to expand their network and get immediate feedback on their ventures or entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations.
Servant Leadership
The Sheetz Fellows were busy performing servant leadership hours at St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Altoona on Martin Luther King Day. Servant leadership is a key component of the Sheetz Fellows Program.