District Students Participate in Summer Business Program

The following is a press release from the West Chester Area School District.

A number of returning WCASD high school students did a lot more than vacation over the course of this past summer. During the months of July and August, 24 District students, representing all three of our high schools, received highly-coveted slots to participate in Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week sessions held during four separate weeks at Lycoming College, in Williamsport, PA, and the Penn State University campus. A complete list of District students with the good fortune to participate is listed below.  

The Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week is a program designed to educate high school students about the American free enterprise system. Each week brings motivated students together with business people from throughout the state. Lycoming College has been the host campus for PFEW for more than 20 years and the Pennsylvania College of Technology at Penn State serves as a second host campus.  

The cost of attendance for 10 of the students was paid for by the West Chester Area Education Foundation, the District’s non-profit foundation now in its second year. A generous contribution to the Foundation made by Verizon was used to underwrite those ten student’s expenses. The other District students were able to participate as a result of local businesses that made contributions directly to PFEW.  

During the weeklong program, participants gain an understanding learn of the free enterprise system and also get a practitioner's perspective on what success requires in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. Students simulate the operation of their own business for a game equivalent of three years. Facing all of the decisions that confront real executives, the student companies are mentored by dedicated business volunteers who serve as company advisors. The advisors share their expertise to address the most significant issues facing business today in straightforward, informal discussions with students.  

By the start of this new school year, WCASD Superintendent Dr. Jim Scanlon had received letters from each participating District student and found a common theme to be a great sense of enthusiasm and appreciation for having been able to attend the one-week sessions. Several wrote that their interest in pursuing a professional business career was cemented by what was seen and learned during the dynamic program.    

Along with motivational speakers and interactive learning exercises, the one-of-a-kind program helps students grasp the value of teamwork, cooperation and leadership and are provided with an invaluable opportunity to develop communication skills. If Pennsylvania businesses are to remain competitive, it is crucial that our workforce have an understanding and appreciation of the challenges that face the business community. Those practicing business today translated the real world of private enterprise for tomorrow's leaders. An educational program like no other, PFEW is an opportunity every eager student should have the chance to experience.  

From its inception in 1979, Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week has addressed the compelling and urgent issue of workforce preparedness. Through its unique hands-on approach, and direct interaction and teamwork with both business leaders and peers, PFEW has now broadened the view of American business for over 30,000 student graduates.

PARTICIPANTS: Allyson Arthur, Amanda Boland, Akhil Chittajallu, Andrew Drake, Sai Gangisetty, Brianna Guarnere, Paul Hayes, Genevieve Mackenzie, Alison Neilon, Cantley Roberts, Alexandra Schmied, Elizabeth Snell

PARTICIPANTS: James Bady, Jr., Michael Gu, Brooke Jin, Sara Kirchstein, Sarai Sherfield, Shaishvi Shrivastava, Jess Sweeney

PARTICIPANTS: Alec Curry, Tyler Fritsch, Asia Grant, Colleen Oulahan, Judy Yan