2024 Summer Venture in Business

LAWRENCE – The University of Kansas School of Business will host its eighth annual Summer Venture in Business program for high school students in two sessions, from June 9-11 and July 14-19. The school will host nearly 50 students from 11 states.

The pre-college program gives rising 10th, 11th and 12th grade high school students from underrepresented backgrounds and/or potential first-generation college students an opportunity to explore business majors. Students gain firsthand experience in business topics, resources for applying to KU and tools to help them succeed in college. They stay on campus and are immersed in the KU student experience. The program is offered at no cost to participants.

The 2024 cohort includes students from 40 high schools in Kansas, Missouri, California, Colorado, Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Represented high schools include:

Kansas

• Lawrence Free State High School in Lawrence
• Topeka High School in Topeka
• St. James Academy in Lenexa
• Maranatha Christian Academy in Shawnee
• Olathe East High School and Olathe South High School in Olathe
• Blue Valley North High School, Blue Valley Northwest High School, Blue Valley West High School and Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park
• Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, Turner High School and Wyandotte High School in Kansas City
• Atchison County Community High School in Effingham
• Troy High School in Troy
• Rock Creek High School in St. George
• Newton High School in Newton
• Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School and Wichita Collegiate School in Wichita
• Derby High School in Derby

Missouri

• Frontier STEM High School, Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Ruskin High School and St. Teresa’s Academy in Kansas City 
• Raytown South High School in Raytown
• Lee’s Summit North High School in Lee’s Summit
• Clinton High School in Clinton
• Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton

California, Colorado, Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia

• Downey High School in Downey, California
• DSST: Green Valley Ranch High School in Denver
• Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois
• Chapel Hill High School in Douglasville, Georgia
• Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Brooklyn Friends School in Brooklyn, New York
• Chapel Hill High School Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas
• Garland High School in Garland, Texas
• Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Virginia.

Students will attend workshops about college and career preparedness, lectures about a selection of the school’s academic majors, presentations about various industries and career options from corporate sponsors, a company tour of Central Bank in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, social activities and a final presentation.

Featured sponsors of this year’s program are Central Bank, EMC Insurance, EY, Evergy, Hallmark, KPMG and Yetter Tax.

The inaugural Summer Venture in Business was held in 2017 after former KU Student Body President Stephonn Alcorn and Vice President Gabby Naylor, both of whom are KU business school graduates, introduced the program in their 2016 Student Senate coalition.

Learn more about the Summer Venture in Business.