International Capital & Management Company (ICMC), in partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands School of Business, once again celebrates the successes of their Enterprise Business Institute (EBI) Class of 2017 as they welcome 12-year-old youth entrepreneur Egypt Ufele from 9-11 a.m., Sunday, July 9, on the UVI – St. Thomas campus.
“We are excited to host this young entrepreneur as we celebrate the successes of our talented young students who have worked hard this summer to create their very own businesses,” said Karen Nelson-Hughes, ICMC community relations director, who also thanked the office of Senate President Myron D. Jackson for connecting Ufele with ICMC for this event. “I am hopeful that Ms. Ufele, who is a fashion designer, UN youth ambassador and CEO of her own clothing line, will both positively engage and inspire our class of EBI students.”
To positively impact the business landscape and prepare young Virgin Islanders with the important skills of business and entrepreneurship, this free summer program sets a clear course to assist students in developing key skills while providing insight into the college experience and campus life.
“It is programs such as this that truly reflect ICMC’s mission to positively impact the Virgin Islands community, and very specifically in this case, the territory’s young people,” said Cornel Williams, president of ICMC.
For two weeks, 15 students from across the territory had the opportunity to reside on the UVI campus to enjoy a pre-college experience and learn about the advantages and challenges of entrepreneurship, experience mentorship from successful business leaders, while participating in active discussions about concept development and business ownership.
Students also engaged in team exercises to improve their team-building and project management skills as well as enjoyed educational experiences where they could participate in forums and discussions facilitated by business professionals along with a group of their peers.
“We strive to identify those who will benefit the most from our entrepreneurial training offerings,” said Dr. Paul Flemming, assistant dean for the School of Business on St. Croix and EBI director. “Many of our past students have since gone on to open successful businesses of their own, and we aspire to continue this trend, as together we inspire the future business owners and leaders of tomorrow.”
A robust and well-rounded program, the curriculum also offers time for students to enjoy time together as they participate in community engagement activities, as well as social networking opportunities and off-site excursions.
For more information about this exciting program, contact Karen Nelson-Hughes at communityrelations@icmcvi.com or via phone at 777-1302.
