YEA! Connects High School Entrepreneurs with Business Mentors

Launching any business is a challenge. But when you’re a high school student trying to launch a business, that challenge may seem overwhelming. Thankfully, Webster Central School District’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) pairs students with local business professionals who can mentor them.
 

On November 20, this year’s Webster YEA! class got to meet their local mentors in a panel-style event that allowed them to ask questions about the mentors’ business experiences while also allowing mentors the opportunity to share their expertise with the aspiring entrepreneurs. After the panel discussion was complete, students and mentors mingled over a luncheon in a more informal setting where they could ask further questions of one another.
 
The connections made at the panel luncheon will be revisited throughout the school year as the mentors guide the burgeoning entrepreneurs in developing their own businesses.
 
Thank you to this year’s mentors:

• Sylvia Ryndock of Sylvia Sellz Homes
• Russ Ziskind of Gemini Technical Services
• Lisa Schlonski of Lala’s Boutique
• Maria Criscitello of Julianna Salon
• Garrett Wagner of C3 Advisory
• Christine Gigante of Woofs Canine Club & Indoor Dog Park
• Chris Muench of PHP Point of Sale

 
The annual Business Panel Luncheon is just one of the many ways that the Webster YEA! program helps interested Webster Schroeder and Webster Thomas high schools’ students plan, prepare, and launch their own real businesses. Mentors meet with our YEA! entrepreneurs and participate in formative business conversations to helpfully develop and realize their proposals. Donors make a financial contribution to the program to help support developing student proposals into finished products and provide scholarship funding to selected entrepreneurs. Investors pledge money toward student businesses and join an in-person Shark Tank-style presentation of student entrepreneur business proposals.

Interested in being a part of this? Email program coordinator Jim McEntee at james_mcentee@webstercsd.org.