Mt. Pleasant student to participate in University of Iowa business camp

Lydia Jo Allen, who will be a senior at Mt. Pleasant Community High School in the fall, will participate in a program sponsored by the University of Iowa?s business school that introduces students from underrepresented groups to higher education and business education.

The Gateway Project will be held June 22 to June 26 at UI?s Tippie College of Business, and will give 30 soon-to-be high school seniors a taste of the college experience while encouraging them to consider majoring in business. The students are from groups underrepresented in business, including minority, low-income and first-generation. The program will show the educational opportunities available to them.

Participating students will discover career opportunities by meeting with Iowa City business owners and Tippie College of Business faculty members and alumni, and they?ll learn more about the different areas of business they can study, including finance, marketing, accounting, management and analytics. Students will also read case studies, play simulation games, participate in self-studies and learn the basics of applying for college and financial aid.

They?ll also participate in social activities while staying in a university residence hall to get a taste of life at a Big Ten university.

The program has been in development for two years and Tippie College counselors have worked with high schools across the state to recruit participants.