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Business school offers program for high school students


April 19, 2010

The high school students of today will become the business leaders of tomorrow. That’s why the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU is announcing a new, free program to help educate some of Arizona’s best and brightest high school students.

“We’re looking for students who really want to make a difference in the business world, and we want to reach them early, so we can help them succeed,” said Robert Mittelstaedt, dean of the W. P. Carey School of Business. “We hope to find students who might otherwise not be exposed to this type of program or college visits.”

The Fleischer Scholars Program will be offered to select traditionally underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students during the summer between their junior and senior years. High school counselors and teachers across the state are encouraged to help identify good candidates to apply. The program, which will take place July 12-16 this year, is designed to help prepare participants to thrive in both business school and their careers.

“We want to help educate young people about the boundless opportunities and achievements America and freedom provide us,” said Morton Fleischer, a local entrepreneur, who, along with his wife, ASU graduate Donna Fleischer, donated the scholarships for the program. “We hope some of the students will recognize the legacy that American entrepreneurs and business people have achieved and seek to add to it.”

The Fleischer Scholars Program is a “bridge program” to aid students with the transition from high school to college. During the four-day program, students will stay with supervising mentors in Barrett, the Honors College, at ASU’s Tempe campus. They will work with current W. P. Carey School of Business students and faculty members, as well as business and industry representatives. They will learn about academic and career opportunities, and they will become familiar with the steps needed to get into business school and receive financial assistance.

“We want to give these students a lot of valuable, practical knowledge,” said Tim Desch, assistant dean for undergraduate admissions at the W. P. Carey School of Business. “The curriculum will include everything from local business visits to resume-writing workshops, lessons on college study skills, employer presentations, group projects and tips for the university application process. We want to take them from nervous and unsure about college to being knowledgeable, empowered and motivated when they come out of the program.”

Recently, the W. P. Carey School of Business announced another program to benefit high school students. The W. P. Carey School partnered with Marcos de Niza High School to help it become the first business magnet high school in the Tempe area. Adding to that spirit, the new Fleischer Scholars Program is being offered to high school students from across the state. The new program is all thanks to the philanthropist Fleischers, who just want to provide others with opportunities to be as successful as they have been.

About 30 students will be chosen for this year’s inaugural program. For more information, call (480) 965-8710, e-mail wpcadmissions@asu.edu or watch a video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w43zTYihWR4.