Deerwood Bank signed on to sponsor local Brainerd area high school students so they can attend BestPrep’s virtual summer camp, e-Minnesota Business Venture this July.
The sponsorship covers the registration fee, three days of content, digital programming costs and a toolkit with bonus gifts. Space is limited, but spots are on hold for these sponsorship recipients.
The three-day virtual summer program provides high school students with real-world skills, offering a rare opportunity to learn about career options, develop financial literacy and workplace skills and cushion their resumes for college applications, all from the safety of their homes. The summer camp offers two sessions for students to choose from: July 13-15 and July 27-29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.
While past years of Minnesota Business Venture have taken place for a full week on a college campus, in 2020, students will participate at home virtually with their computers, tablets or smartphones.
Students will work in small teams or “companies” to create a fictitious product and business plan to be presented at the end of the session. Other activities include guest keynote speakers, scavenger hunts, team-building exercises, breakout sessions and mock interviews. An added feature this year will be drop-in motivational messages from national and local celebrities, including entertainers, business executives and athletes.
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“We’re so excited to be able to provide a summer opportunity for students whose plans have been affected by COVID-19,” said BestPrep’s Minnesota Business Venture Program Manager Janae Olinger, in a news release. “Students will connect with business professionals, make new friends, and leave the program feeling more confident and prepared for their futures. We encourage all high school students to join us.”
Registration is open for all Minnesota high school students completing ninth through 12th grades. Enrollment is typically $50, but this sponsorship covers this fee for Brainerd area students. Additional financial aid is available for students who demonstrate financial need. Students who do not have access to a device or internet will be supplied with what they need. Students or parents can obtain an application and sponsorship information by contacting BestPrep at mbv@bestprep.org or online at bestprep.org/mbv .
