Schools

Students Awarded Money for Businesses

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) program held its annual investor panel Thursday night, awarding more than $8,000 to local students to start their own businesses.

junior Jamie Passaglia was shocked Thursday night when she learned that she'd not only been awarded $1,330 to start her own business, Jamie's Organic Bakery, but that she'd also been chosen to represent our area at a national competition.

Participating in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), Passaglia designed a business that will sell packaged, dry cake mixes that are organic, fair trade and made with whole grains. An investor panel selected Passaglia to represent the Lake Zurich Chamber at the Saunders Scholars Bright Ideas competition in New York.

"I can't believe it," said Passaglia. "It's like a dream. I'm really happy that people are excited about my idea."

Passaglia, who plans to become a dietitian, said after having some health issues in middle school, she started examining the food in her pantry.

"I looked at what I was eating and said, 'This is bad,'" she said. "I didn't like the way I felt eating junk food."

Passaglia, an artist and musician, used her creativity to design healthier cake mixes.

"People call baking a science, but I call it an art," she said.

In all, awarded $8,906 to 11 students to start their own businesses.

State Sen. Dan Duffy (R-26) served as the emcee for Thursday night's event. He talked about starting his own business 20 years ago after being inspired by his dad, who "always told me to 'dare to dream.'"

Duffy said small businesses make up 80 percent of the jobs in Illinois.

"So it's Main Street, not Wall Street, that keeps our economy going," said Duffy. "These kids are our future."

During the YEA! program, students develop a business plan, explore marketing and learn from local business leaders, said Dale Perrin, executive director of the Lake Zurich Area Chamber. The year-long process drew students from Barrington, Lake Zurich and Palatine this year, along with Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.

The funds awarded to the students come from local businesses and organizations, including , which donates $5,000 to YEA! each year. An investor panel — made up of local business and community leaders — determines how much each student will receive. This year's investor panel included: Lucy Prouty, Ela Township supervisor; Anne Dobbertin, Ela Township trustee; Lynn O'Brien, ; Peter Panagakis, ; and Randy Hertel, R-H Insurance Group.

Please look through the attached photo gallery and read about each student's business!


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here