Clinton County High School student Vivian Zheng is building her business and entrepreneurial skills this summer at The Center for Rural Development’s 2017 Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI).

Zheng is the daughter of Yao Zheng and Wen Juan Chen of Albany.

ELI, a one-week summer leadership camp for student entrepreneurs, provides high school students in Southern and Eastern Kentucky with an in-depth look at what it takes to start their own business venture — from idea development to building a model prototype of their business concept.

“Our Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute gives aspiring student entrepreneurs the skills they need to become successful business owners and entrepreneurs in Southern and Eastern Kentucky,” said Delaney Stephens, community liaison and youth programs coordinator for The Center. “The program this year will focus on idea development and how to sell that idea. Students will work in teams to come up with a business concept, develop a business plan, and create a model prototype of their business idea.”

The Center is partnering with the Kentucky Innovation Network in Richmond and the Community and Leadership Development Department at the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment to provide program instruction. Most of the ELI curriculum is based on the E-Discovery Program developed by UK’s Community and Leadership Development Department.

ELI will be held on the campus of The Center for Rural Development in Somerset during the week of July 24-28. On the final day of the program, ELI business teams will compete in the Business Concept Challenge competition. Members of the winning team will earn a $3,500 renewable scholarship from Eastern Kentucky University.