Start YEA! as a high school student, finish as a CEO

BENTONVILLE — Middle and high school students can now apply to attend northwest Arkansas’ first ever Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA!) class. Dawn K. Stewart of Pea Ridge has been named program manager.

YEA! is a weekly program throughout the academic year that guides students through launching and running their own businesses or social movements. YEA! is open to all students in grades 6-12. While in the academy, students will receive all the necessary tools to launch real, legal businesses. This includes access to experts such as attorneys, accountants, business mentors, local CEO’s, investors and graphic designers/ web developers.

Students will also have an audience with investors for start-up funding, and the opportunity to compete for college scholarships.

Applications can be submitted online at: http:// bbvchamber.com/YEA

The selection process is competitive. There is a Bentonville YEA! Information Session scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12 in The Walmart World Room (above the Walmart Museum on the Bentonville Square). Join us for more information regarding this exceptional, experiential program.

YEA! classes will be held at The Walmart World Room from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Tuesday from Oct. 18, 2016, to May 23, 2017.

Stewart will oversee an entrepreneurial experience for students that connects them with local businesses, community leaders and educators to guide the development and formation of their own businesses that will be fully formed and operational by the end of the 30-week program.

Stewart works as VP Business Retention & Program Development at Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce and holds a BA in Marketing and Business Management from Illinois State University.

Contact Dawn K. Stewart at dstewart@bbvchambor.com or 479-273-2841 or 479531-9353 for information about enrolling in YEA!