St. Richard's Episcopal School students to learn about being entrepreneurs

March 16, 2011

INDIANAPOLIS and WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Twenty-seven St. Richard's Episcopal School eighth-graders will receive hands-on experience in becoming entrepreneurs during a weeklong academy in late March.

St. Richard's officials are partnering with the Purdue Research Park to hold an entrepreneurship academy March 21-25 at the school, 33 E. 33rd St., Indianapolis. The St. Richard's Episcopal School Academy will mirror the weeklong Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy held for high school sophomores and juniors each summer on Purdue University's West Lafayette campus.

Teams of four to five students will be provided with high-tech business cases and, with the assistance of a team mentor, will determine the best way for their business to compete, identify capital needs to start the business and devise plans for successfully managing the business.

"St. Richard's Episcopal School Academy mentors work in the business and industry sectors. Their practical knowledge in these fields will assist the students throughout the week," said Kathi Keen, interim middle division head of St. Richard's Episcopal School. "Members of our community strengthen the school in many ways, and their participation in the March academy as mentors and judges is another example of how much support we receive from the business community."

On the final day, teams will give a 15-minute "investor pitch" to a panel of judges in a competition. All participants and their teachers will visit the Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette and the university's campus in May.

"The eighth-grade students at St. Richard's Episcopal School not only will learn about the business world through the academy, but they also will have the opportunity to learn what it is like to be on the campus of a world-class research institution when they visit Purdue University and Purdue Research Park in May," Keen said. "These experiences will further strengthen the students academically and guide them to become leaders in the world."

Timothy Peoples, director of the Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy, said goals are aligned to make the academy successful for the students and the state.

"St. Richard's Episcopal School leaders are committed to providing outstanding learning opportunities for their students, and the Purdue Research Park is dedicated to strengthening the entrepreneurial spirit in the state," he said. "We hope that the March academy will encourage the student participants to learn more about entrepreneurship, consider future opportunities in this area and impact the state's economy."

The 2011 St. Richard's Episcopal School Entrepreneurship Academy is sponsored by Accent on Business and Barnes and Thornburg LLP.

     
About St. Richard's Episcopal School

St. Richard's Episcopal School fosters knowledge and values for a lifetime through the implementation of our Five Pillars for Success: faith, classic curriculum, leadership, civic responsibility and global readiness.

About the Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy

The goal of the Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy is to provide innovative math, science and technology-based business and life skills that empower young people, and offer them unique opportunities and real-world experiences in creating a business.

     
Purdue Research Park contact: Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org

Sources: Kathi Keen, 317-926-0425, kkeen@strichardsschool.org

               Timothy Peoples, 765-588-3365, trpeoples@prf.org

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