YEA members to present business plans at panel

Local student entrepreneurs will take the stage to present their business plans before a panel of local industry leaders at 6 p.m. March 25 at the Devorris Downtown Center.

Twenty students representing 19 self-made businesses from the Blair County Chamber Young Entrepreneurs Academy will have five minutes to pitch their business plans to prominent members of the local business community during the program’s annual YEA! Investor Panel Event conducted “Shark Tank”-style.

Based on the appeal and merit of the students’ plans and presentations, investors will determine the amount of funds to allocate to each business. The investors will also select one business to advance to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy Saunders Scholars Competition, where they will compete with students from across the United States for college scholarships.

The event is free and open to the public.

IU8 partners with PSU in college readiness program

Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 has announced its partnership with Penn State’s Readiness Institute to bring the Readiness Institute Summer Discovery program to rising high school seniors in Bedford, Blair, Cambria and Somerset counties.

This five-week, paid learning experience is designed to prepare students for college, career and life alongside a cohort of peers.

The program is open to current high school juniors who will be seniors in fall 2025, offering an immersive summer experience that helps young adults build confidence, leadership and career readiness.

Interested students can learn more and apply by visiting https://readinessinstitute.psu.edu/programs/summer-discovery/. The application deadline is March 31, and students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.