High schoolers: Plenty of chances to get ahead this summer
The summer recess from school can be a time for fun, recreation and vacations. But this summer also offers opportunities for high schoolers thinking ahead about education and employment opportunities.
Those interested in pursuing business should consider applying to the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program. Open to all Pennsylvania public, private, parochial, charter, cyber and home school students who have completed their sophomore or junior year, the week-long program lets students get an real-life immersion into the world of business.
“The state of Pennsylvania does not require high school students to take course work in economics or business to graduate,” said Scott T. Lee, vice president of marketing and development for the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education. “In 1979 a group of Erie businessmen founded the Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program to address this void.”
Open to all students across the state, the week long program is funded by a $625 scholarship provided by a business, chamber, civic organization, foundation or individual who believes that educating students in business and the American free enterprise system is the key to the state’s economic future. The actual audited value of the PFEW scholarship is approximately $1,500.
All student expenses (room and board, materials and program activities) are provided by the scholarship. Greene County students are asked to pay a $150 registration fee and find transportation to and from Williamsport, where the program is hosted by the Lycoming College and the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Those admitted to the program will spend one of the five separate week-long sessions on campus where they will be mentored by 120 volunteer business men and women from across the state. The week long sessions run from July 1 to July 13 and end the week of August 4 to 10.
All participants will receive a certificate of completion, and members of the winning team in the competitions will receive one share of stock in a major American company. Application for the program should be filed by May 1, but additional applications may also be considered after the deadline. To register for the program, go to www.pfew.org.
Another scholarship opportunity is offered by the Rotary Club of Waynesburg. Applications for The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) are due by May 1 and should be mailed to to PO Box 290, Waynesburg PA. 15370. Applicants should be between the ages of 14 and 18.
RYLA is a week-long leadership development program taking place annually at Outdoor Odyssey near Johnstown. This year the program is scheduled for June 23-28. The Rotary Club of Waynesburg pays the registration fee for a student to attend the program. If the recipient needs help to get to the program or to get home, the club will help to arrange that.
Students who might like to earn some extra money over the summer, be mentored by a professional in a work environment, have some employment history to add to their resume and enjoy a positive work experience might want to apply for the summer work experiences offer by Southwest Training Services. Limited to those between the ages of 14 and 24, the six week work experience runs from June 24 through August 2. During that time, participants will earn $10.35 per hour for up to 32 hours a week, depending on the needs of the employer.
Each year, employers, agencies and schools send Southwest Training Services (STS) requests for workers and the organization tries to match the employer (for-profit, non-profit or government) with a compatible youth.
“If the applicant is interested in going on to college, we try to match them to an employer related to their career choice,” said Lisa Neil, STS president. “If they want to work outside, we try to math them with a landscaper, a park or municipal government. If they like to work inside and one-on-one, we’d could match them to a library or school. We also like to place them near a convenient location of employment if transportation might be an issue.”
STS pays 100% of the participant’s salary and workman’s comp as well as the cost of background checks. The program includes a financial literacy component that discusses with the participant’s finances, smart decisions they can make regarding their paycheck and how to open and balance a checkbook.
“We want to make sure the program is a good experience for our youth,” Neil said.
The application deadline is May 15. For more information, phone Maresa at 724-852-2900, ext. 246. Employers interested in requesting summer youth workers through the STS should also phone the same person and number.
To get a jump-start on college education by earning college credits this summer, consider applying for the High School Early Admit Program at California University of Pennsylvania. The program helps students stand out on their college applications and enter college with credits earned, making it easier to double major, participate in internships or graduate early. It also allows them to explore different areas of study to discover their interests.
Earn Cal U credits by taking either traditional face-to-face classes on campus or 100% online courses that allow students complete coursework anytime, anywhere.
The program recommends taking one course per term, and students can select their course(s) for the term they want to attend – fall, winter, spring or summer. Application requirements include completing the sophomore year of high school, enrolling in a college preparatory program, having an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and taking a standardized test such as the SAT, ACT or PSAT.
The registration deadline is May 28 and the traditional 10-week session begins June 3. For more information, phone 724-938-4404 or visit https://www.calu.edu/hsea.
West Virginia University has a similar program titled the the High School ACCESS Early College Program. Requirements include being a high school or home-schooled junior or senior during the semester when the desired course is offered, (high school sophomores must obtain special permission), earning a 3.0 GPA or higher and obtaining parent/guardian permission.
Some courses require students to complete a mathematics placement test, or to have a current ACT/SAT score sent to WVU when applying. The deadline for the summer program is June 17, 2019. For more information, phone 304-293-9420 or log on to www.access.wvu.edu.
Closer to home, Waynesburg University is holding its 13th annual CSI Camp for students entering 11th grade, 12th grade or who are spring 2019 high school graduates. The camp runs from June 16 to 21 and is designed to give students hands-on experience of what they can expect in the forensic science and criminal justice majors, and ultimately, occupations.
The registration fee is $500, which includes meals, housing, instruction and activity materials. The required $100 deposit is non-refundable, and the registration deadline is May 6. Campers will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register, go to www.waynesburg.edu/csi-camp or phone Bob Barnhart, admissions counselor, at 724-852-3346.