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Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy
TESA is back! Join us on June 21-25, 2021!
We are excited to be hosting the Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy in person for the Summer 2021 session.
Registration has closed. Thank you!
About
For the past twelve years the Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy (TESA) has built high school students into budding entrepreneurs. The Teen Academy is designed for high school students entering grades 9th all the way to 12th grade. Our Teen Entrepreneur Summer Academy attracts students from across the state of Michigan. During the five day academy, teams of four to five students from different schools manufacture an original business pitch from the idea stage to a developed concept. On the final day, each team will present their idea to a panel of local business professionals for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $5,000! The theme for TESA 2021 is Smart Cities- How to leverage technology to foster urban transformation.
This year TESA will be held June 21-June 25th. The academy will take place in-person at the L. William Seidman Center, part of GVSU's downtown campus. The daily schedule is 9am-5pm.
Space is limited. Please register by Monday, June 7th.
*Modifications to the in person experience may be made based on state and city health guidelines and regulations.
Itinerary
Day 1 Industry Overview & Market Research
Day 2 Marketing Plan
Day 3 Management & Operational Planning
Day 4 Financial Instructional Plan & Presentation Planning
Day 5 Final Pitch Competition & Award Ceremony
Schedule
9:00 a.m. Students Arrive
9:25 a.m. Instructional Session
11:30 a.m. Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. Planning/ Workshop
2:45 p.m. Launch Activity/ Reflections
5:00 p.m. Dismissal
GVSU Campus
Located in the heart of Grand Rapids, Grand Valley State University's Pew Campus provides students with access to community resources such as businesses, hospitals and government agencies. These institutions provide internships and act as research hubs for students to compete in a knowledge-driven economy. GVSU has gladly offered the use of its Pew Campus to help students get the most out of their TESA experience. Located at 50 Front Ave SW Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
Registration
Dates: June 21-25, 2021
Fee: $100 per student. Scholarships are available for students who qualify for financial aid.
The registration Deadline is June 7th.
Please note: The TESA application does not allow you to save and come back to it. Please have payment information including any scholarship codes ready when applying. Our staff is unable to see partially completed applications. We recommend having students work on their essay questions in a separate document so that that they can save it as needed and then copy and paste it into the TESA application. Questions about registration or scholarships can be emailed to cei@gvsu.edu.
FAQs
Will my child need to provide their own transportation? Yes, you will need to provide your own transportation to and from the facility. Students who wish to drive themselves must follow these parking guidelines. Please park in the Watson St. lot.
Will meals be provided at the summer academy? Yes! Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided for the students.
What kind of business ideas will the students be building their plans around? The 2021 year's theme is Digital Cities and Internet of Things
What is the dress code? Students will be given a TESA t-shirt to wear for the first four days of the academy. These t-shirts help staff recognize and keep track of teams. Students are expected to be dressed in business/office attire for their pitch on the fifth and final day. Review Dress Code.
Is my child expected to attend the academy in its entirety; what if they have a conflict? Yes, students are expected to be present each day and support the efforts of their team. Please contact CEI at cei@gvsu.edu or (616) 331-7582 if a student must leave early, arrive late or miss a day.
Will my child need to bring any materials with them? All materials including pens, pencils, paper, supplies or any other tools needed to further the experience at the academy will be provided. We will provide university computers for the students, but because many of the students perform in-depth research, they are allowed to bring laptop computers at their own risk.
Are overnight accommodations available? Since this is a day camp, we do not provide overnight accommodations, but we can make recommendations at GVSU or the surrounding hotels. The student would need to cover their own accommodation fees plus ensure they have a chaperone or adult supervision after 5 p.m. We are not responsible for supervising the students after 5 p.m. For more information, please contact CEI at cei@gvsu.edu or (616) 331-7582
Are scholarships available? A select number of scholarships are available for students who need financial assistance. A scholarship will reduce the cost from $100 to $25. The requirements for a scholarship is a confirmation letter/e-mail from a school counselor that states you qualify for financial assistance. The counselor can send the e-mail confirmation to Amy Gascon, gascona@gvsu.edu. If a student doesn't have a school counselor, and a scholarship is needed please still contact us to work it out.
Where can I park? Free parking for TESA students, volunteers and guests is available in the Watson Lot (#21 on the map), or the Fulton Lot (#16 on the map): GVSU Downtown campus map
Didn't find the answer to your question?
Email us at cei@gvsu.edu or call (616) 331-7582
Presented by
TESA '17
TESA'16
TESA'15