WINDERMERE, FL, February 1, 2018 – Windermere Preparatory School (WPS) is proud to announce a partnership with the Windermere branch of SunTrust Bank, for the upcoming co-presented “Young Entrepreneurs of WPS Networking Event,” on February 15 from 6 PM to 9 PM. The event is open to the public and will be held in the Town Hall of Downtown Windermere.
The event is part of the WPS initiative to enhance education through its Entrepreneurial Studies Program by giving students access to current entrepreneurs in the community, as the students look to share their startup companies, and to learn first-hand the power of relationships in a real-world networking environment.
The Entrepreneurial Studies Program was launched two years ago at WPS and students can enter the program in their Freshman year. The course is grounded in experiential learning where local entrepreneurs are utilized to teach students principals of business and entrepreneurship over three full years of curriculum.
The program, which currently has 60 students enrolled, was developed by Gary Conroy, Director of Entrepreneurial Studies at WPS, and who is also a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of The Startup Studio. As part of developing the program, Conroy identified multiple partners including SunTrust Bank from the Central Florida market to partner with the program to ensure that students are offered seamless access into the world of business and entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship is a life skill that takes many years to develop,” said Conroy. “We have to stop telling students sensational stories about methodologies that ensure a speedy path from Startup to IPO. That is not the reality. Entrepreneurship is first about knowing yourself and believing that you can sustain an independent economy. It is a learn by failure discipline and it begins with story and understanding what it is you are passionate about. The foundation of Entrepreneurship Education, therefore, needs to be about long-term mentorship and experiential learning.”
SunTrust Vice President, Financial Center Manager, Jhoanny Cardenas further added, “SunTrust is committed to advancing financial education throughout the communities we serve. Young Entrepreneurs offers a unique opportunity to help expose students to the world of banking and finance. We look forward to helping instill knowledge and information that will help enrich their lives into the future.”
The event will serve as a strong networking opportunity open to entrepreneurs, educators, parents, and to anyone looking to connect with this program. All attendees will have the opportunity to meet the students currently enrolled, and to learn more about the startup companies they are developing.
Dr. Steven Lyng, Assistant Headmaster for WPS said, “There is no greater skill a student of the 21st century needs more than the ability to understand proper methods by which to execute on their ideas, to identify problems worth solving, and the ability to capture their solutions through the creation of impactful value propositions. We are so thrilled to have SunTrust Bank as a partner, and we look forward to seeing this partnership grow over the next few years as we work together to bring experiential opportunities to our students as part of this program.”
About Windermere Preparatory School
Windermere Preparatory School is a private college preparatory school educating students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 2000, Windermere Preparatory School is a member of the Nord Anglia Education Family of Schools and is located on a 48-acre campus in Southwest Orlando. The school provides a seamless curriculum that culminates with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB), and is the only Central Florida private school to offer the IB Diploma, which is widely considered to be the Gold Standard of high school curriculum. Windermere Preparatory School is a local school of distinction with a global vision, including a population of international boarding students from around the world.
As an International Baccalaureate World School, Windermere Preparatory School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SAC), Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS), Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC), and is a member of the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA).
Please click for more information about Windermere Preparatory School, and about the Entrepreneurial Studies Program.
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