A big CONGRATULATIONS to Zachary High School junior Khaliyah Claiborne for being selected for a coveted spot in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge for the 2024-2025 school year!

YEA BR shared that they reviewed over 95 applications, and Khaliyah stood out to them as exceptional. They are eager to see her ideas come to life as YEA BR develops and launches student businesses this year through the Academy!

“The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a groundbreaking and exciting program that transforms local middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs. Through the year-long program, students in grades 6-12 generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their very own companies.”

Khaliyah will be mentored by some of Baton Rouge’s most successful business leaders and educators.  There will be a CEO roundtable, a community pitch, and graduation from the program during the spring.

The program is hosted at the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business, which gives Khaliyah

access to LSU faculty from the Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship and Information Systems, fellows of the system, LSU Innovation Park, a prototyping center, and the LSU Student Incubator for networking space and counseling. Graduates of the program qualify

for LSU credit if enrolled at LSU within four years.

The YEA is excited about this outstanding cohort of young entrepreneurs and what they will learn and accomplish this year. The Zachary Community School District is looking forward to seeing what Khaliyah develops and her success in this highly esteemed and competitive program.

Photos by: Michael Roth