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From staff reports
West Jessamine High School freshman Aviana “Avi” Judd will work on building her business and entrepreneurial skills this summer at The Center for Rural Development’s 2019 Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI).
Judd is the daughter of Gregory Judd and Angela Judd of Wilmore.
Judd will join 25 students from across Southern and Eastern Kentucky to attend the week-long camp at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset on July 22-26. ELI is a summer leadership camp for student entrepreneurs. ELI provides high school students in Southern and Eastern Kentucky with an in-depth look at what it takes to start their own business venture — from idea development to building a model prototype of their business concept.
“It’s essential that we begin developing future business owners by engaging today’s youth,” said Lonnie Lawson, President and CEO of The Center for Rural Development. “Our ELI program is an excellent opportunity to bring together a group of like-minded students from Southern and Eastern Kentucky who have a desire for entrepreneurship and possibly starting their own businesses. It is our mission to provide them with the creative skillset and resources they will need in order to be successful entrepreneurs in the future.”
The Center for Rural Development partners with Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation and Eastern Kentucky University to develop the program. During the camp, ELI business teams will compete in the Business Concept Challenge competition. Members of the winning team will earn a $16,000 provost scholarship from EKU.
For more information on ELI or any of The Center’s summer youth leadership programs, contact Allison Cross, community liaison and youth programs coordinator, at 606-677-6000, across@centertech.com, or visit www.centeryouthprograms.com.