May 22, 2009
Georgia College program promotes business
Georgia College & State University will host its annual “Black Youth and Business” program next month -- one of only two such programs in Georgia designed to encourage black high school students to attend college and to go into business for themselves.
Twenty-four students from the Middle Georgia area will attend the program June 7 through 13. The award-winning program is unique because the participants live on the university’s campus, allowing them to also experience college environment. The program has been part of the university’s minority outreach efforts since 1985.
“Our program is designed to help expand the number of minorities who become business owners,” said GCSU President Dorothy Leland. “Currently, minorities account for nearly 40 percent of the state’s population, but they own less than 16 percent of its businesses.”
This year students were chosen from: Baldwin High School, Central High School (Macon), Georgia Military College Prep School, Hancock Central High School (Sparta), John Milledge Academy, Morgan County High School, Northside High School (Macon), Putnam County High School, and Wilkinson County School.
The “Black Youth and Business” program at Georgia College offers participants the opportunity to learn about starting a business, how to finance it, and how to keep track of expenditures. Students also work in groups to develop business plans, a process which is designed to include college-level skills. Their proposals are then reviewed and critiqued by a panel of business owners and Georgia College faculty and students. Each group is given feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of their plans.
“This program is powerful because it opens the eyes of these kids to the reality that they can own a business -- that it’s a reality that’s within their grasp,” said Associate Professor Dr. John Swinton, Director of the Center for Economic Education at Georgia College.
To provide the participants with a first-hand, real-world look at how a business works, they are also given the opportunity to “shadow” local business entrepreneurs for an afternoon. The goals of the program include giving students a preliminary understanding of business economics and the creation of a support network of peers, role models and mentors.
Students also are provided with information about how to select the right college, how to apply, and the many opportunities available for financial aid.
The week culminates with a closing banquet, featuring presentations by the participants, the announcement of the winning team, and a special message delivered by a keynote speaker to encourage them in their future endeavors.
To participate, students must be either rising juniors or seniors and have a grade point average of at least 2.5. In addition to their completed application, candidates must submit a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or guidance counselor. Students who are admitted to the program receive free tuition, housing and meals during their week-long stay on campus.
The Black Youth and Business Program at Georgia College is a project of the J. Whitney Bunting College of Business and the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity.
The program was approved by the University System of Georgia and created with the cooperation of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Georgia. Funding for the 2009 Black Youth and Business program is provided by a grant from the Small Business Development Center at the University of Georgia and the Georgia Council on Economic Education.
For more information, contact Dr. John Swinton at (478) 445-2591.