PFEW brings 300 high schoolers to campus

Penn College hosted more than 300 entrepreneurial high school students on campus during a session of the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education’s Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week.

PFEW immerses high schoolers in the world of business. Led by a business mentor, groups of about 16 participants become the management team of an underperforming manufacturing company in direct competition with other student companies. The teens become responsible for all aspects of business operations: management, production, sales and marketing, human resources, corporate communications, and more. They use simulation software to determine their selling price, production level and a variety of business costs, and create an extensive marketing campaign.

During their time at PFEW, the students also hear from world-class speakers. This year’s guests included Judd R. Pittman, director of the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Bureau of Career and Technical Education.

Penn College is the host for one of five annual PFEW sessions. The other four were held at nearby Lycoming College. PFEW graduates are eligible for a $1,000 Penn College scholarship if they enroll at the college in the fall semester following their high school graduation and meet GPA requirements.