Young Entrepreneurs Academy – YEA!
Young Entrepreneurs Academy Ignites Spirit of Entrepreneurship and Spurs Economic Growth
The Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Consolidated School District 15 are proud to
present the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) for its 11th year. This innovative program transforms
middle school students into business owners through a weekly entrepreneurship education class, set to
begin each fall.
YEA! is a cutting-edge initiative that guides students ages 12 to 14 through the process of launching
real businesses or social movements over the course of an academic year. By the end of the program,
students own and operate fully formed and functioning ventures that can be continued beyond the
program.
“The Young Entrepreneurs Academy helps the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce fulfill its goal of
supporting small business development by training future leaders and building lasting connections with
the local business community,” said Chamber Director Steven Gaus. “We are proud to have
graduated more than 200 students who have launched over 160 businesses. We’ve engaged 55 local
business leaders as mentors, instructors, and guides—an inspiring demonstration of community
giving. Palatine and Rolling Meadows are the only Chambers of Commerce in Illinois offering such a
program.”
“YEA! offers a unique model that bridges the business and academic communities while creating
meaningful local connections for students,” said YEA! Founder and CEO Gayle Jagel. “We are
excited that YEA! continues to make a positive impact in the Palatine community.”
“YEA! aims to teach students how to create jobs—not just take them,” Jagel added.
“At a time when small business growth is declining in the U.S., young entrepreneurs with the right
training can become a powerful force for innovation and employment.”
During the 22-week course, students brainstorm business ideas, pitch to investors for startup funding,
file DBAs, and officially launch their own businesses or social initiatives. Local professionals from
fields such as graphic design, web development, law, accounting, retail, manufacturing, and technology
serve as mentors, field trip hosts, and guest lecturers to support students through this hands-on
curriculum.
“One of the most impactful elements of YEA! is the behind-the-scenes insight that local business
leaders share with students,” Gaus said. “Community support strengthens the program, and in
turn, the Academy strengthens the community. Students gain transferable skills and a foundation to
become future industry leaders.”
YEA! was founded in 2004 at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY, with support from the
Kauffman Foundation. It now receives national support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and
Sam’s Club.
YEA! classes in Palatine are run by the Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce and are expected to begin
virtually for the upcoming school year, from October 24 to May 1. Applications for the 2025–26
school year will be available in August.
Learn more at www.palatinechamber.com/yea or visit yeausa.org. For additional information, contact Steven Gaus at [email protected] or call (847)
398-3730.
“YEA! aims to teach students how to create jobs—not just take them.”
— Gayle Jagel, YEA! Founder and CEO
Township High School District 211
Township High School District 211 is the state’s largest high school system, delivering relevant
and innovative education to more than 12,000 students annually in five high schools – Palatine,
William Fremd, James B. Conant, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates – and two alternative schools. The
district serves all or portions of 11 diverse communities, including Palatine, Schaumburg and Hoffman
Estates.
Each school is nationally recognized; student athletic, activity and arts groups annually receive
recognition at the state level; and staff and students are routinely honored at state and national
levels for excellence.
District 211 educators focus on helping all students reach their full potential. The district offers a
variety of social and emotional supports as well as Career Pathway programming that provides access to
focused curriculum, early college credits, work-based learning experiences and college certifications.
Students have the opportunity to build homes in the building construction program using plans created by
students in the architectural design program; create businesses in the entrepreneurship program are
pitched to investors; experience the culinary arts through competitions and in-school restaurants and
cafes; earn manufacturing credentials that put them in a career after high school; commit to becoming
teachers through a program that allows them teaching time of their own; complete Certified Nursing
Assistant certification before high school and more. These opportunities are supported by dozens of
after-school clubs, athletics, and activities.
For more information, visit adc.d211.org.
Harper College
As one of the nation’s premier community colleges, serving more than 22,000 credit and non-credit
students annually in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, Harper College prepares students for rewarding
careers and for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
Located in Palatine, Harper offers associate degree and certificate programs, workforce training,
professional development, community education classes, accelerated degree options for adults and
developmental education programs. Named one of the top 20 colleges in the U.S. by the Aspen Institute,
Harper is a national leader in workforce solutions, connecting talented students with area employers via
apprenticeships, internships and other partnerships.
But Harper serves much more of its communities’ populations than those traditionally considered
to be of college age. It offers a wide range of non-credit, enriching programs for people as young as 6
through their 90s, according to Dr. Scott Cashman, senior manager of Community, Career and Corporate
Education at Harper.
For instance, those seeking a chance to advance in their career may enroll in computer and technology
classes, ranging from project management to AI to business intelligence. Many of these courses are
available both in person and online.
Then there are a wide variety of personal interest courses in foreign languages, the arts, writing and
music. Ceramics and photography are favorites, as is fiction writing. The instrumental and folk music
ensembles are also booming. Many community members choose to enroll in conversational Spanish, Italian,
French, German and Japanese courses, along with special Spanish classes for those studying law
enforcement or nursing.
Each summer Harper offers its InZone enrichment and sports camp for kids from 6 to 14. More than 1,000
children annually take advantage of campus offerings ranging from astronomy and languages to soccer and
math. In addition, seniors 55 and older may elect to participate in the year-round Lifelong Learning
Institute, which offers daytime lectures on everything from AI to American history to music and art
appreciation.
For more information about Harper College, visit harpercollege.edu. For details about Harper’s non-credit
community education, visit ce.harpercollege.edu.
