Unique Opportunity for North Iowa High School Students

MASON CITY, IOWA – The North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is now accepting applications for the 2025 Youth Entrepreneurial Academy (YEA), taking place from Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20, 2025. A concluding pitch competition will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, where students will present their business ideas for a chance to win seed funding.

Thanks to generous financial support from the John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation, the Youth Entrepreneurial Academy is completely free for North Iowa high school students. Now in its 28^th year, YEA is an innovative program that provides students with real-world entrepreneurial skills that are essential for success in any career.

At YEA, students have the opportunity to learn about starting their own business and begin creating wealth by doing something they’re passionate about. Students will learn how their unique interests, skills, and strengths can be developed and applied to create their own personal path to success. Students will also have the opportunity to network with local entrepreneurs, tour local businesses, develop leadership skills, meet like-minded peers, create solutions to real-world problems, and gain fundamental entrepreneurship skills like finance, marketing, and communication.

YEA is a one-week summer camp held on the NIACC campus. Every participant will receive an automatic $500 scholarship to NIACC upon completing the program. Students will receive gas cards to pay for the week’s travel from their homes or may choose to stay in chaperoned student housing on campus. YEA concludes with an exciting pitch competition on June 23, 2025, where students will present their business ideas in front of a panel of judges. Participants will showcase their business plans and slide decks, competing for startup funding to help launch their ventures.

Applications are due May 17, 2025. Applications can be found online at www.pappajohncenter.com/yea/ or by contacting the Pappajohn Center directly at pappajohn@niacc.edu. For more information, please contact Raegan Hanson at the NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at 641-422-4234 or raegan.hanson@niacc.edu.

The NIACC John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center is the expert in rural business innovation and success. In partnership with North Iowa’s Small Business Development Center, together we provide tools, support, and resources to Iowa’s entrepreneurs. We counsel both new and existing local businesses, from Main Street to industry leaders. We’re growing Iowa’s entrepreneurial culture through grade school initiatives, college and community programs, and business training and development. Contact the NIACC Pappajohn Center at 641-422-4111 or pappajohn@niacc.edu.

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