Concordia University Hosts Business-Minded Teenagers for Week-Long Entrepreneurship Camp in Irvine

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 11, 2013) - Concordia University is hosting 80 students in Irvine, California, at its 2^nd annual Teen Entrepreneur Academy (TEA) to help them plan and develop their own small businesses with a faith-based approach to entrepreneurship from Sunday, July 14 to Friday, July 19. The students will spend six days living and working on campus and venturing out on field trips to visit local companies. At the end of a week of classes, presentations and outings, students present business plans in a Fish Bowl Business Plan Competition to vie for a $1,000 grand prize.

Students will learn from many impressive speakers and local business owners about various aspects of planning and launching a start-up. Scheduled presentations include a Google Glass demonstration, a discussion of Business Intelligence (BI) by Northwood Advisors founder Myron Weber, and speeches by Phillip Chang, founder of Yogurtland, and Wing Lam, founder of Wahoo's Fish Taco.

TEA is dedicated to improving young people's lives through entrepreneurial education, inspiring them to succeed in school and take charge of their futures. High school students who engage in entrepreneurship training start and maintain businesses at substantially higher rates than their peers. They also express increased interest in attending college, greater occupational aspirations and improved scores in independent reading.

"We take great satisfaction in introducing teenagers to the real world of business and the opportunities presented by entrepreneurship," says Stephen Christensen, founder of the Teen Entrepreneur Academy. "Education is a key component in improving people and changing a community. TEA empowers 'TeenPreneurs' to kick-start their business dreams while writing their own business plans."

Over 80 students are registered for TEA this summer -- twice as many as last year, and at least half are low-income students from Santa Ana high schools who are attending on scholarship support provided by individual donors and corporate sponsors. Students will attend from as far away as New York, Florida, and even 13 from China, to immerse themselves in entrepreneurial culture and training, and some will leave with a successful new venture.

For more information, please visit www.cui.edu/tea or contact Stephen Christensen at Stephen.Christensen@cui.edu. 

ABOUT TEEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACADEMY: TEA is an experiential business education program that includes planning, goals-setting, budgeting, managing deadlines, and providing instant feedback. Students experience a low-risk way to launch a business. Successful entrepreneurs and business faculty teach and mentor students with step-by-step advice. TEA trains and equips the next generation of entrepreneurs, young men and women of character and integrity who bring a values-based approach to their businesses. www.cui.edu/tea.

ABOUT CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY IRVINE: Concordia University Irvine (CUI) is a U.S. News Top Tier Regional University that prepares students for their vocations -- their calling in life. CUI offers undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree programs in a beautiful Southern California location, with online and regional cohort options. A member of the Concordia University system of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and guided by the Great Commission of Christ Jesus and the Lutheran Confessions, Concordia University Irvine empowers students through the liberal arts and professional studies for lives of learning, service and leadership. www.cui.edu.