Middle school students from Pitt and Beaufort Counties showed off their entrepreneur and business skills at East Carolina University Friday.
The 28 students spent three weeks working on an innovative project idea.
They developed business plans and created models, all while learning how to act and dress like a business professional.
The students were chosen to participate in the academy by each of their school principals.
Academy participant Haili Martinez says,”It was cool because I really got to use my imagination and like put my ideas out there and actually have somebody listen to problems and solve them.”
This is the second year for the program which is funded for two years through an advanced manufacturing and innovation grant.
Now, administrators say they’ll be looking for ways to continue the academy next summer.