Zachary High School senior Zahara Firven has been selected for a spot in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy of Baton Rouge for the 2025-2026 school year, the Zachary Community School District and Zachary High School announced.
The Young Entrepreneurs Academy transforms local middle and high school students into real, confident entrepreneurs, a news release said. Through the yearlong program, students in grades 6-12 generate business ideas, conduct market research, write business plans, pitch to a panel of investors, and launch their very own companies.
Firven will be mentored by Baton Rouge business leaders and educators. There will be a CEO roundtable, a community pitch, and graduation from the program during the spring.
The program is hosted at the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business, which gives Firven access to LSU faculty from the Stephenson Department of Entrepreneurship and Information Systems, fellows of the system, LSU Innovation Park, a prototyping center, and the LSU Student Incubator for networking space and counseling. Graduates of the program qualify for LSU credit if enrolled at LSU within four years.
The YEA is excited about the cohort of young entrepreneurs and what they will learn and accomplish this year, the release said.