Student Entrepreneurs Can Earn $1,000 Scholarships This Summer
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--Student Entrepreneurs Can Earn $1,000 Scholarships This Summer
The Nova Scotia government is now accepting applications from student entrepreneurs who want to earn $1,000 scholarships this summer. The Office of Economic Development is recognizing the efforts of students who create their own summer jobs through its new Youth Entrepreneur Scholarships (YES) initiative.
"This new scholarship opportunity will help encourage entrepreneurship in young Nova Scotians," said Gordon Balser, Minister of Economic Development. "Education and economic growth are strategic to the future well-being of our young people. By tying the two together in this scholarship initiative, we're putting the province's economic growth strategy, as well as our students, to work."
YES is open to full-time students who are between 16 and 29 years of age as of June 1. These students must be enrolled in a high school or a recognized post-secondary educational institution this fall. If there are co-owners or partners in the business, the scholarship is split equally.
Students participating in YES will also benefit from the experience of entrepreneurs and business counsellors who will help them build business networks and give them practical, helpful advice over the summer. To help make this mentoring happen, the Office of Economic Development has developed partnerships with local regional development authorities, community business development corporations and Open for Business Centres across the province to access volunteer business mentors.
Government supports many initiatives with the aim of helping young Nova Scotians develop entrepreneurial attitudes and thinking, as well as entrepreneurial skills. More than 25,000 students from primary to community college and university are now exposed each year to entrepreneurship as a career choice.
"Through YES, young Nova Scotians can earn, learn, network and develop life skills while continuing to place education at the top of their priority list," said Matt Haliburton, entrepreneurship teacher at Shelburne Regional High School. "Even if students choose not to continue with entrepreneurship as a career option, the skills and knowledge attained will make them highly employable."
Once students are accepted as scholarship applicants, they must run their businesses full-time over the summer and prepare a business report in the fall. Scholarship winners will be selected in October following an evaluation. Scholarships awarded to high school students will be held for them until they enroll in a post-secondary educational institution.
"Government actively encourages the entrepreneurial attitude and works steadily to improve the business climate of the province to make it easier for businesses in Nova Scotia to start and grow," said Mr. Balser. "Entrepreneurship is a great way of keeping our best and brightest at home."
Students who are operating or planning to operate businesses this summer can access the application package online at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/yes/ . The scholarship application deadline is June 30.