WARSAW — Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Tippecanoe Valley High School to offer seniors a unique opportunity to become business owners. Called YEA, for Young Entrepreneurs Academy, this nationwide program offers an in-school model and after school model where interested teens learn to create their own business.

The teens learn all aspects of owning a business from writing a business plan to speaking to potential investors. This year, Andrea Reed, events manager at the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce, and Jennifer Pyle, Main Street coordinator, are overseeing the program. Seniors participating in the program take it in combination with their government and economics classes.

The program also partners with professor Al Grossnickle at Grace College, so a portion of the students work in YEA is for dual credit.

The chamber began offering the program three years ago. Reed said the first year, 24 students participated, last year 35 participated and this year 50 students are participating.

Students are working in groups or on their own to create a business. Some of the ideas they are working on this year include: A student raising her own chickens to offer farm fresh meat, a jerky shop, gourmet chocolates, tractor restoration, cupcakery and a vintage car body shop.

YEA students have inspired a teacher, June Yazel, to create her own business, re-purposing coffee grounds into beauty products. “The kids were pretty excited about their own (business), but as soon as she announced, they drilled her (with questions),” Reed said.

The program goes the entire school year and takes up two class periods.

Reed and Pyle are looking for mentors for the students who will meet with them approximately five times to review their business and marketing plans and offer advice. “People in our community are excited to support young entrepreneurs,” Reed said.

Some of the challenges the students struggle with are coming up with ideas for their business plan and speaking in front of the investor panel. With 50 students this year, Reed said she needs to find a bigger space for the students and their families and interested members of the public to watch the investor panel. Similar to the TV show “Shark Tank,” the students come before a group of potential investors and pitch their product.

Reed explained the YEA program is funded through sponsorships and a portion of the sponsorship money goes to the investor panel to award to the students. Reed said she hoped to have a minimum of seven people on this year’s investment panel. Those donating a sponsorship as a presidential sponsor and a local champion sponsor receive seats on the investor panel. Sponsorships at several levels are available.

The students really enjoy seeing their project come to life. “It will be interesting to see how the groups stay together after school,” Reed said. “A lot of them are planning to go to college.”

For more information on being a mentor or a sponsor, contact Reed at (574) 267-6311.