Participants from last year’s Teen Entrepreneur Challenge. (courtesy photo)

Penn State Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Launchbox will be hosting a 10-day summer camp for rising high school sophomore, juniors, or seniors interested in exploring entrepreneurship.

The 2019 Teen Entrepreneur Challenge will allow students interested in developing the foundation for a successful business or product idea to learn key strategies for launching a startup and developing an entrepreneurial spirit.

The program runs from July 8 to July 17, and registration is now open. For more information, visit the Teen Entrepreneur Challenge website or call 610-285-5111 or email summerchallenge@psu.edu.

“Teen Entrepreneur Challenge is in its 4th year at PSU-LV, and the students seem to raise the bar every year,” said Elaine Thode, program coordinator for Lehigh Valley LaunchBox.

“This program is a must for students who are thinking of becoming their own boss one day,” Thode said. “The professors, speakers, field trips, networking opportunities, and access to Perkiomen’s Innovation Center are unsurpassed.”

Participants will receive guidance from Penn State professors, business leaders, LaunchBox grant recipients, and teachers from Perkiomen School, which is another partners offering the program.

Judy Dones of San Antonio, Texas, whose son attended the program in 2018, said it was among the best summer programs he ever attended.

“I was delighted about the caliber of professors and administrators who ran, contributed to, and participated in the program,” Dones said. “I was also impressed by all the connections that Jason was able to make with professionals in their respective fields.”

The Teen Entrepreneur Challenge will also include field trips and hands-on, real-world exercises to expose the students to the confidence and knowledge required to consider their own entrepreneurial journey, according to Penn State Lehigh Valley.

Students attend programs at Penn State Lehigh Valley during the day and at Perkiomen School in the evening. They will reside at Perkiomen School, which sits on a 165-acre campus with residential, athletic and academic facilities.

The school’s Innovation Center offers programming in modern technologies, 3D virtual reality, additive manufacturing, computer design, and rapid prototyping.

The TEC culminates in a “Shark Tank” style pitch competition where students present their ideas for a solution that addresses a real-world business problem to a panel of judges who choose a winner based on pre-determined criteria.

This gives TEC students the opportunity to develop different perspectives, build a personal brand, work as a team, connect to future employers and explore STEM educational programming, according to Penn State Lehigh Valley.

The cost per student is $1,595.00 and includes housing, activities, meals, and transportation. An early bird registration fee of $1,495.00 is available for those who register before April 15, 2019.

Limited scholarships may be available based on financial need. Dual enrollment is available for an additional $1,000, which includes three college credits transferable to the college or university of the student’s choice.