CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Creative collaboration fuels innovation, and the Teen Entrepreneur Challenge (TEC) is poised to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs. Offered by Penn State Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley LaunchBox, and Perkiomen School, the 10-day summer camp is for rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors interested in developing the foundation for a successful business or product idea.

Students will learn key strategies for launching a startup and developing an entrepreneurial spirit from Penn State professors, Perkiomen School teachers, business leaders, and Lehigh Valley LaunchBox grant recipients. Field trips and hands-on, real-world exercises will expose students to the confidence and knowledge required to consider their own entrepreneurial journey.

The program will run from July 8 to 17, 2019. While new opportunities are in the works for 2019, see the schedule from last year here to get an idea of the offerings of TEC.

Students attend programs at Penn State Lehigh Valley during the day and at Perkiomen School in the evening. They will reside at Perkiomen School, which sits on a 165-acre campus with residential, athletic and academic facilities. The school's Innovation Center offers programming in modern technologies, 3D virtual reality, additive manufacturing, computer design and rapid prototyping.

“My son, Jason, loved the program! He felt as though he gained a great deal and had fun at the same time. I think TEC ranks among the best summer programs he has attended,” said Judy Dones, of San Antonio, Texas, whose son Jason attended TEC in 2018. “I was delighted about the caliber of professors and administrators who ran, contributed to and participated in the program. I was also impressed by all the connections that Jason was able to make with professionals in their respective fields. … TEC is a fantastic program and I'm very glad that Jason attended.”

The TEC culminates in a “Shark Tank”-style pitch competition where students present their ideas for a solution that addresses a real-world business problem to a panel of judges who choose a winner based on predetermined criteria. This gives TEC students the opportunity to develop different perspectives, build a personal brand, work as a team, connect to future employers, and explore STEM educational programming.

The cost per student is $1,595 and includes housing, activities, meals and transportation. An early bird registration fee of $1,495 is available for those who register before April 15, 2019. Limited scholarships may be available based on financial need. Dual enrollment is available for an additional $1,000, which includes three college credits transferable to the college or university of the student’s choice.

For more information about the Teen Entrepreneur Challenge or to register, visit the Teen Entrepreneur Challenge website, call 610-285-5111, or email summerchallenge@psu.edu.