When I was in high school, a friend in Chemistry class encouraged me to apply to the SC Governor’s School for the Arts, which back then was a 5-week long summer program held at Furman University meant to expose talented teens to intensive study of the art form of their choice. I was thrilled to be accepted to the program for creative writing, and I credit the five weeks I spent there with literally changing my life for the better.
A co-worker of mine recently read a Post & Courier letter to the editor which led me to discover South Carolina Business Week, a week-long intensive program meant to teach SC teens about business and entrepreneurship. Executives from SC businesses work with teens throughout the week on a wide variety of business topics, giving students a chance to learn about the real world of business. The program is held at Presbyterian College and sponsored primarily by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, but other businesses can get involved by contributing $500 toward scholarships for students, or by sending an executive to serve as a Company Advisor for the week.
The application for admission for this summer’s program has passed, but what a great thing to look into for next year’s high school juniors and seniors! You can read all about the program, sponsorship opportunities, and even see the Program Report from 2006 on their website. And most importantly of all, be sure to encourage teens you know who might be interested in careers in business to check it out! They just might come away with the experience of a lifetime!
