eAcademy Among Best in Economic Development

HERMITAGE, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Economic Development Association has honored the eCenter@LindenPointe Entrepreneurship Academy as one of the state’s top economic development programs for its ongoing work in connecting high school students with business leaders and educational institutions.

The award recognizes the eCenter and other recipients for their efforts to move Pennsylvania in a positive direction through “inventing new programs and strategies to respond to the rapidly changing business and community environments.”

The eAcademy is a program developed in cooperation with the eCenter, the city of Hermitage, and 11 school districts across western Pennsylvania. The program was launched in 2014, and allows students from these districts to receive a yearlong experience working with experts to develop leadership and entrepreneurial skills.

About 100 students have graduated since the eAcademy was established. Most of these students are attending regional colleges, have launched their own businesses, or have joined local companies.

“The program is an experience that has given me the chance to meet new people and do new things that I normally would not have had the chance to do in the typical high school setting,” said Laney Kantner, a class of 2019 eAcademy student.

Allison Sanford, also of the class of 2019, said the initiative is a new experience for her, also. “I was able to get a better grasp of how the world works outside high school.”

Support for the eAcademy is made through partnerships with Daffin’s Candies, First Energy Foundation, First National Bank, Meszaros Family Charitable Foundation, and Mercer County State Bank. The program’s annual “demo day” is sponsored by EKME law, Gilbert’s Risk Solutions and Winner International.

Pictured: Lisa Evans, program director, instructs a class at eAcademy.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.