Overview: The Horatio Alger Association held its third annual American Enterprise Summit in Washington, D.C., bringing together nearly 150 students and educators. Participants explored American democracy and entrepreneurship through visits to the U.S. Capitol and a “Shark Tank” style business competition. This fully funded program, organized in partnership with Close Up, aimed to inspire young people to pursue the American Dream through civic engagement and leadership.
Ellen Perrault
This summer, students from Cesar Chavez Academy represented Corona and the inland region at the Horatio Alger Association’s third annual American Enterprise Summit, a fully funded program in Washington, D.C.
The Summit brought together nearly 150 students and educators from across the country for an immersive experience focused on civic learning, entrepreneurship, and the principles of the American Dream.
During the summit, students visited the U.S. Capitol, National Archives, Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and national memorials, while also participating in hands-on workshops and a “Shark Tank”-style business pitch competition. They also met with Horatio Alger Members, who shared personal stories of perseverance and success.
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc., is a nonprofit that honors leaders who have overcome adversity and supports young people in furthering their education. These leaders welcomed 146 students and educators from across the country to Washington, D.C. in June for the third annual American Enterprise Summit. The fully funded, multi-day summit introduces middle school students to the principles of democracy, free enterprise, and the American Dream.
Held in partnership with Close Up, a nonpartisan civic education organization, the immersive educational program convened rising eighth-grade students and educators from across the country for hands-on civic education and interactive learning in the nation’s capital. Students were nominated by their teachers to attend alongside educators from their schools.
Through interactive learning sessions and field trips throughout Washington, D.C., students explored the evolution of the American Dream, learned about the principles of the free-enterprise system, and gained firsthand insight into American democracy. They viewed the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights at the National Archives, visited the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, toured the U.S. Capitol and reflected at the Jefferson, Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials.
The summit also connected students with Horatio Alger Members, who shared their personal stories of perseverance and success in the face of adversity. Students then put those lessons into practice by developing and presenting business ideas during a “Shark Tank”-style competition that encouraged creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.
“When a student stands where history was made and pitches a business idea of their own in the same week, they start to understand that the American Dream is something they have the power to build for themselves,” said Lesley Albanese, Chief Executive Officer of the Horatio Alger Association. “The American Enterprise Summit helps students connect with the principles that shaped our nation, and we hope every student leaves with the knowledge and confidence to shape their futures.”
“An informed democracy depends on young people who understand how our institutions work and believe their voices matter,” said Mia Charity, President of the Close Up Foundation. “The American Enterprise Summit gives students the opportunity to experience civic learning in action and inspires them to become active, engaged citizens in their schools and communities.”
This year’s participants represented schools from across the United States including two from CA, as follows: Cesar Chavez Academy (Corona, CA); El Dorado Middle School (Concord, CA); Benjamin Franklin Mathematics & Science Middle School (New Orleans, LA); Marian Middle School (St. Louis, MO); Meadow Hill Middle School (Missoula, MT); Monroe Middle School (Omaha, NE); Mount Anthony Union Middle School (Bennington, VT); Ringgold Middle School (Ringgold, GA); Robinson Middle School (Topeka, KS); Trimble County Junior/Senior High School (Bedford, KY); Uplift Education Charter School (Dallas, TX); and the Williams Middle Magnet School (Tampa, FL).
The American Enterprise Summit reflects the Horatio Alger Association’s commitment to inspiring young people through education, civic engagement, and exposure to the values of perseverance, personal responsibility, and opportunity that have shaped the nation.
The summit is made possible thanks to the generosity of Horatio Alger Members and supporters.