Young Entrepreneur Program
Interested in starting and growing a business? Win up to $5,000!
The Young Entrepreneur Program (YEP) engages, educates, and empowers area high school students through entrepreneurship. The program runs from February through early May.
- Free + open to all area high school students
- Find out how to turn your innovative ideas into a viable business
- Get advice and network with area mentors
- Compete to win seed money by pitching your business idea to local leaders in May
- YEP workshops will guide you through every step of developing your idea from concept to pitch
$5,000 – 1st place, The Stotler Prize
$2,000 – 2nd place
$1,000 – 3rd place
(20 participants)
About the Stotler Prize:
The Stotler Prize is named after Edith Ann Stotler (1946 - 2022), who was a native of Champaign, Illinois and longtime pillar in the community. Edith worked in the banking industry and served on the board of directors for the Krannert Center and Champaign Public Library. Edith’s appreciation and support of libraries was captured with the following sentiment, “Our library is one of our city’s greatest assets. With a great legacy dating back to a gift from A.C. Burnham in 1896, the library continues to enrich life in our community. By including the library in my estate plan, I can help continue this strong tradition.”
YEP Workshops | Spring 2025
YEP meets on Mondays, from 6–7:30 pm, at the Main Library. YEP workshops will alternate with coaching sessions. A light dinner will be served.
Workshops
- Feb 10 + 24
- Mar 10 + 24
- Apr 7 + 21
Pitch Competition*
- May 4
*In order to participate in the YEP Pitch Competition and be eligible for prize money, participants must attend at least 5 of the 6 Monday workshops, plus the Pitch Competition on May 4. Missed workshops can be made up by attending a drop-in YEP mentoring session or by scheduling a one-on-one meeting with the library’s Business Specialist.
At the 2019 Young Entrepreneur Program Pitch Competition, area entrepreneurs, ages 13–24, showcased their business ideas. Middle school student Amari Johnson won top honors and received $5,000 in seed money to grow her business.
Made possible with support from the Library Foundation.