NSU Provides Entrepreneurial Students with an Edge to Launch Their Business
When students near graduation, they often are asked by family and friends what they plan to do. One unique program is giving them a leg up, with not only a business degree but a $20,000 investment into their business.
Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship has created a one-of-a-kind program to develop students’ entrepreneurial skills and to earn a bachelor’s and MBA degree in four years. Known as the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy, the program incorporates an entrepreneurial curriculum coupled with co-curricular activities, which result in the creation of and monetary investment into their business following graduation.
“At NSU, academic excellence, education and professionalism are at the core of who we are and it is a priority for us to develop the next generation of business leaders,” said Dr. George L. Hanbury, president and CEO at NSU. “Students who successfully complete the Huizenga Academy will have an edge when they graduate, enabling them to lead a robust economy.”
Created for traditional first-time university students, the Huizenga Academy has developed a curriculum designed to educate future business leaders. Students will enhance their résumés by participating in a special summer “boot camp” during the first and second years the program. During these sessions, they will create and learn how to run a student business on campus. In addition, they will gain additional hands-on, practical experience with faculty-mentored internships primarily in the South Florida business community. Twenty students from the Huizenga Academy, were selected as “Razor’s Edge Scholars” who will take on campus leadership positions and serve as CEO’s of the student-run businesses.
As part of the program, Huizenga Academy students will receive an $18,000 scholarship that can be earned annually for the first three years by maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA and and active participation in co-currcular events and activities throughout their education. Those who successfully graduate from the Innovation Academy will receive a $20,000 investment from NSU to put towards their business startup.
“This program, which is unique to The Huizenga College at NSU, uses experiential learning to teach the future entrepreneurs,” said Tom Tworoger, D.B.A., chair of the Entrepreneurship Department. “Students will be taught the management skill sets that they will need to succeed in the world of business, as well as expert guidance from our faculty and community business partners. All of the professors from the Entrepreneurship Department have run successful businesses”.
