July 19, 2005 :: No. 6

Thirty Orange County middle and high school students are taking part in a seven-week Academy of Business Leadership summer institute hosted by Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics.

The ABL program, which continues through Aug.12, offers workshops, projects and skills training related to the stock market, finance and entrepreneurship. In addition, participants are taking part in college preparation programs, receiving mentoring from volunteer trainers and going on weekly field trips to tour area businesses and meet with executives.

“We view this as an excellent opportunity for high-potential, low-opportunity students throughout the region to experience college while gaining business skills and knowledge,” said Lea Beth Lewis, assistant dean of the College of Business and Economics. “This program gives students hands-on exposure to business fundamentals through such projects as a stock market simulation and development of a business plan. They see what others have accomplished and what they can achieve,” she noted.

The Academy of Business Leadership’s goals are: to improve students’ chances of participating in the global economy, ensure their financial self-sufficiency and security, and unleash the potential of participants to aspire to become future CEOs, entrepreneurs and civic leaders.

Participants in the ABL program are attending classes from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays and 8 a.m. to noon Fridays. They are scheduled to present their business plans Aug. 5.

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