(Posted May 8, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- A handful of college business entrepreneurs and specialists from the Juniata College Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and Huntingdon County Business and Industry will conduct a workshop for students from four Huntingdon County high schools interested in business start-ups at noon, Thursday, May 11, at the Juniata Valley High School auditorium.

The workshop, sponsored by the Huntingdon County Enterprise Zone, is targeted at high school students who would like to open their own business or create a new business when they go to college. The program has been developed in conjunction with the Huntingdon County B.A.S.I.C.S. Program, a partnership between business and education aiming to prepare students for the local workforce.

"The idea for the workshop is to give students the inspiration and encouragement to follow through on a business idea," says Dr. Michael Lehman, executive director of JCEL.

The workshop also will feature presentations by Janet Chambers, assistant director of JCEL and Juniata College student entrepreneurs. Demitri Patitsas, a junior from Huntingdon, Pa., will give a presentation on his ice cream truck business. Julia Williams, a junior from Schellsburg, Pa. will describe her entrepreneurial project, which markets beef jerky in exotic flavors. Celina Isenberg, a junior from Huntingdon, will give a presentation on a bio-diesel fuel project.

In addition, Nate Savolskis, coordinator for Huntingdon County Business and Industry's Keystone Innovation Zone, will make a presentation on how Keystone Innovation Zones function to help start-up technology businesses.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.