Over 30 years ago, the idea of connecting high school students with business leaders to learn about our free enterprise system hatched at the Association of Washington Business (AWB). The idea was to bring high school juniors to a college campus, at that time Central Washington State University in Ellensburg, and connect them with volunteers from the business community to learn about our market-based system. It was successful from the start.
Business Week has expanded to several states and foreign countries and thousands of young people are Business Week graduates. Today, it has even expanded into some high schools during the winter months. Thanks in large part goes to the pioneering work by former AWB chair and Yelm grocer Hal Wolf and the ongoing leadership of Steve Hyer, Business Week's current president and CEO.
AWB is still the founding sponsor of Business Week. Today,it has expanded and now the Foundation for Free Enterprise, a 501(c)(3), sponsors the program and to other university campus sites in our state. Many companies look at Business Week as an excellent career development opportunity for their people and companies. For high school students, it is an excellent way to learn about what has made America the success story it is and participate hands on-----and have some fun.
Contact Business Week at 800-686-6442 and if you are a high school student, check the program out. Make it part of your summer plans. If you are a business leader, go for it. As president of AWB and a former Business Week adviser, we value the AWB logo on Business Week materials because it is a sign of excellence.
