Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas
by Andy Gillette
     Kansas is known for three things: a girl named Dorothy, a weather phenomenon called a tornado, and an intellectual movement consisting of hard work, planning and determination called entrepreneurship.
     One organization-doing more good than the Witch of the East and stirring things up more than an F5-is working on the latter.
     "What organization is this?" you ask. It's the Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas, or YEK, and it's the organization behind the curtain that's making wishes come true for hundreds of students across the state.
     YEK is a not-for-profit organization that teaches high-school students the value of entrepreneurial thinking while giving them the tools to succeed in a free-market society.
     YEK's impact on Kansas students-in classrooms, with graduates and in the community-is felt far firmer than a fleeting pat on the back and heard far louder than any "good job" said in passing.
     YEK is in the business of changing lives.
     In the classroom, students are taught a year-long elective course by specially trained and certified entrepreneurship instructors. Students are taken down the Yellow-brick Road of success on field trips to businesses, educated by speakers from the community and given a loan to buy supplies for a market-day sale at their school-where they get to keep the net profits.
     The business lessons learned throughout the year culminate in the formation of each student's business plan.
     The top students from each class are chosen to compete for venture capital in regional business plan competitions. Every year at these whirlwind competitions YEK awards thousands of dollars of start-up capital and scholarship money to deserving students.
     In Wichita, for example, Kaci from Heights High School calculated the risk and ROI in creating a business plan for Uniquely~You, Kaci's custom-jewelry store. Kaci's eyes sparkle like ruby-encrusted slippers when she starts describing her products, and her parent's hearts melt like a wet wicked witch when they think of what their daughter has achieved.
     In Lawrence, a budding entrepreneur named Jeremy planned out his own fireworks stand, J&J Fireworks. After taking first place in his regional business plan competition, Jeremy will go on to start the 4th of July holiday with a bang by opening J&J Fireworks in Wellsville, KS.
     Jeremy said that he might have started his business without YEK, but that it wouldn't have been nearly as successful without the organization's help.
     "I already had the idea before YEK. They just helped me by making me write out my business plan," he said. "That helped me a lot to get organized."
     Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas began 11 years ago as a National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) affiliate program. Since then, YEK has taught more than 4,500 students with NFTE course materials and YEK teachers, and has stirred up more entrepreneurial education than a twister does shingles.
     The YEK teachers-who work for the public school districts at area high schools-undergo 40 hours of NFTE training to become certified as instructors of the NFTE curriculum. After that, each educator attends yearly teacher training with YEK to maintain their certification and to learn new teaching techniques, build group relationships and increase their entrepreneurial I.Q.
     Jon Berseth, a YEK instructor of eight years at Wichita South High School, makes the most of his training every summer.
     "It gives us additional tools to use in the classroom," he said. "It's a good time for all of us to come together as a team…to share ideas and coach each other. We're able to give new teachers ideas of what works and doesn't work in the classroom."
     YEK's impact doesn't end when that classroom clock strikes 3:00 p.m., however.
     Graduates from the YEK class stay involved with this entre-organization in many ways. For example, students can find resources and advice in the YEK offices, safely protected from windy-weather phenomenon in the basement level of Wichita State University's Center for Entrepreneurship.
     Students can also participate in YEK's summer partnerships with Wichita-area businesses. The young YEKers have the chance to learn from and interact with many of Wichita's premier businesses, such as Cessna Aircraft Company, Smith Barney and the Hayes Corporation.
     The Ambassador's Association offers graduates yet another chance to stay involved with YEK. As an Ambassador, students continue their entrepreneurial education by undertaking large fundraisers, interacting with small business owners and taking special trips.
     Last year the Ambassadors drove to Colorado for a leadership retreat where everyone expanded their minds, hearts and courage dangling from high-ropes courses and paddling through white-water torrents.
     Three-year member and former Ambassador's Association president Andy Gillette will never forget the experience.
     "Leadership is leadership, whether you're telling somebody to buy more products for a business or helping the guy at the front of your boat dodge a rock," he said. "These summer trips give you insight into leadership and business that you just don't get in a classroom."
     In the community, the impact of YEK is felt as shockwaves rippling through the heartland. At 13 schools in six cities across Kansas, YEK graduates and programs are affecting the lives of Kansans everyday.
     Arthur Smith, a graduate of the YEK program, created his own company, Intense Cheer, Etc. (ICE). Now ICE, like many other YEK-influenced businesses, is beginning to provide a service for the community and employment for others.
     "YEK gave me the chance to meet people and get connected," he said. "I work with people today who I met through YEK."
     Programs such as the summer BizCamp™ give students from schools where YEK isn't offered a chance to benefit from the organization. This condensed version of the classroom program is an intensive, three-day camp designed to get students thinking about starting their own businesses.
     Day-long seminars called Mini Dare to Dreams give rural communities a chance to benefit from the YEK staff and curriculum. These one-day events are a tornadic boost of entrepreneurial activities and challenges designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of owning a small business.
     These student-centered community programs are paralleled with adult-focused activities.
     YEK's biannual Business Breakfast Series gives business leaders from around the state a chance to listen to and ask questions of some of the top businesspersons in the country. Wizards of industry such as Charles Koch and Russ Meyer share their insights on leadership and management along with a carafe of orange juice with YEK students and supporters.
     YEK's annual fundraiser and party, the Big Biz Bang, is a chance for YEK supporters to learn more about this organization while having a little fun. Dancers at the party revel at the fact that, because of corporate donations, all of the money raised at the Big Biz Bang goes directly to the YEK classrooms.
     And events featuring special speakers, such as Nobel Prize winner Dr. Vernon Smith and renowned sports psychologist Bob Rotella, are a time when all three groups-students, graduates and the community-can come together and benefit from the Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas.
     With every classroom lesson, speaker and special event, Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas further impacts the lives of Kansas students.
     Because of this entre-organization, the futures of more and more Kansas students shine as bright as a Technicolor dreams and stir up the economic landscape more than any cyclone. But without entrepreneurship, where would they be?
     To contact YEK, call 316-978-7935, or, visit their website at www.yeks.org.

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