The BELA Summer Business Academy is back for another year of enriching students. BELA partners with the Feliciano School of Business at Montclair State University to bring the program to rising 9th graders to 12th graders.
Montclair State University professors develop and teach the curriculum which offers students the opportunity to engage in project-based learning. The program covers the areas of finance, accounting, marketing, real estate, architecture and entrepreneurship. Student’s will have the opportunity to spend time on Montclair State University campus for two weeks as they work alongside each other to create a project.
How Does the Program Work?
Students will have the option of choosing one of two sessions. Each session lasts two weeks with classes beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 2:00 p.m.
The session dates are as follows:
Session 1: June 24 to June 28 (week 1) and July 1 to July 3 (week 2).
Session 2: July 8 to July 11 (week 1) and July 15 to July 18 (week 2).
There are 64 slots available for each session. Students will be placed in groups and each group will be given the same business case study. The groups will work through the case study based on a set of parameters provided by the professors. On the last day of each session, the groups will present a pinnacle project that highlights the ideas and concepts they’ve developed related to the case study. Parents, corporate partners, school administrators, local politicians and local media will attend the presentations.
Past Projects
Since starting seven years ago, the program allowed students to think about ways to reimagine their community. One year, students had to find a piece of commercial real estate for sale in Montclair. From there, they created ideas for development of a shared workspace in that building. Another year, students worked with Montclair’s South End business owners, residents and councilors in an effort to re-imagine the South End business district in the age of COVID. Some students worked with South End business owners after the program ended to bring some of those ideas to life.
In recent years, students created ideas for the redevelopment of Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair. Students considered all factors such as political, community, aesthetic and financial as they developed their ideas. Students were able to work directly with developer David Placek, and present their ideas to him.
Other projects students have done in the past are creating ideas for the redevelopment of Trumpets Jazz Club and the surrounding Walnut Street area in Montclair. Students also worked together to reimagine a 21st Century City Hall in Montclair.
Lasting Impact
Since starting the program, executive director of BELA, Kevin Richberg, said students have presented their ideas during Montclair Design Week and at Montclair Town Council meetings. They’ve also received internships with BELA’s corporate partners and used their experience at the program to enhance their college admission materials. Past program participants went on to attend schools such as the University of Michigan, Howard University, University of Pennsylvania and Stanford.
If your child is interested, complete the BELA Intake Form by Monday, May 27.
On Monday, April 22, BELA will start interviewing students who have submitted intake forms. Students will be interviewed and accepted on a first come first served basis. The program cost is $600.
To know more about BELA visit here or contact belabusiness5@gmail.com.