AKT’s Manufacturing Team is pleased to announce Olive Bicha of Sherwood High School is the recipient of our 2014 Young Entrepreneurs Business Week (YEBW) scholarship winner. Olive demonstrated desire, ambition, and character in her application which fit well with the camp’s dedication to building the next generation of business leaders. She volunteers twice a week at a memory care and assisted living facility where she has gained a great sense of responsibility.

AKT supports YEBW and other similar programs that create opportunities for students to learn, grow, and enhance their career potential. YEBW’s business and leadership programs aid in strengthening the future of high school student participants by producing week-long, summer learning experiences at the University of Portland, University of Oregon, and Oregon State University campuses. Students are placed in mock, student-run companies where they create management teams, develop mission statements, and conduct operations of their own business.

“I’m so excited to have this opportunity to learn about the business world,” says Olive.

“Students participating have a much greater opportunity to learn more about how a business is run than I learned in the first five years of my career,” Chad Summers, YEBW Board of Directors, said. He adds, “Given the current state of today’s labor force, candidates with a broader understanding of how business operates beyond a person’s technical skills are more valuable to employers. The YEBW experience gives these kids that edge.”

Mr. Summers, a former CEO of a lumber manufacturing business, has been asked to be one of the guest speakers along with CEOs of NW Natural, Pacific Power, Tillamook Creamery, and others.

If you would like to learn more about YEBW programs visit their website at www.yebw.org.