Teen Entrepreneurship Fall (2019) Camp participants (courtesy of Penn State Hazleton): From left, first row: Jocelyn Sterenchock, CAN BE Entrepreneurship Coordinator, Yamilé Nader, Cristal Nader, Leonella Diaz, Yamil Nader, Cynthia Diaz, Krista Schneider, Executive Director of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress. Second row, from left: Fermin Diaz, Penn State Entrepreneurship Instructor, Yaquira Morales, Benjamin Nowak, Carson Valkusky, Juan Fabian, Frank Rodriguez, and Cole Sharkey. 

First place winners of the high-school fall (2019) entrepreneurship program Pitch Contest: Jaquira Morales (center) and Jamile Nader (right), with Krista Schneider, Executive Director of the Alliance and program instructor.

Downtown Hazleton Revitalization Strategies

THInC Downtown: Teen Entrepreneurship Education 

Winners of the high-school summer (2019) entrepreneurship program Pitch Contest, From left: Nelson Castillo, Hazleton, NJ Clean & Repair (3rd Place THInC award), Jessica Zheng, Jim Thorpe, Plant Something Here, Plant Something There (2nd Place winner); Brian Simon, Sugarloaf, The Cool Cake Box (1st Place winner), Krista Schneider, Executive Director of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress. Photo courtesy of Penn State Hazleton.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Camp is offered by the Penn State Hazleton LaunchBox in partnership with the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, CAN BE, and other members of the Hazleton Innovation Collaborative (THInC). During the program, participating teams and individuals will have the opportunity to explore their interests while identifying problems in the community, discovering personal strengths and limitations, developing business ideas, and learning how to articulate and act on their ideas. As part of the program, participants will pitch their ideas and compete for $1,500 in prizes. To register for the program contact Director of Continuing Education Debra Conway at 570-450-3136 or dxk40@psu.edu. The 2020 program is offered at no cost to students, thanks to funding received from Wells Fargo Bank and the Reading & Northern Railroad.

Teen Entrepreneurship Summer (2019) Camp participants (courtesy of Penn State Hazleton): First row: Nicole Castillo, Hazleton, The Garage; Lauren Thomas, Sugarloaf, Bee Happy Wraps; Jessica Zheng, Jim Thorpe, Plant Something Here, Plant Something There (2nd Place winner).Second row: Nelson Castillo, Hazleton, NJ Clean & Repair (3rd Place THInC award); Joel Melo, Hazleton, The Garage; Hunter Gallagher, McAdoo, Biz2U; Brian Simon, Sugarloaf, The Cool Cake Box (1st Place winner); Emma Rupert, Zions Grove, Eco Buddy; Liam Leonard, Hazleton, The Patty Wagon. Third row: Joseph Halcisak, Hazleton Township, Easy Treat; Antonio Daiute, Drums, The Patty Wagon; Ryan Kovalick, Drums, The Patty Wagon; Fermin Diaz, Penn State Entrepreneurship Instructor; Missing from the photo is William Andahazy, Penn State Entrepreneurship Instructor.