Southwest Airlines is the Official Domestic Airline of the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), and our Community Affairs and Grassroots Department supports NFTE’s BizCamp and National Business Plan Competition and Annual Awards Gala.
BizCamp is NFTE's two-week intensive summer program for students ages 13-18 who are interested in entrepreneurship. The day camp includes field trips and guest speakers focused on providing students with a comprehensive understanding of business. At the end of the camp, students compete for cash awards to fund their businesses.
NFTE is headquartered in New York City with local offices in major U.S. and Southwest Airline cities and areas, including Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Chicago; Dallas; Fairfield City; CT; Westchester City, NY; Los Angeles; New England; Philadelphia; South Florida; and San Francisco. Since its founding, NFTE has reached over 280,000 young people from low-income communities. Currently, there are more than 1,500 active Certified Entrepreneurship Teachers.
It was an honor to attend and meet many of the NFTE students at the Washington, D.C. NFTE Dare to Dream Making It in Business (Men In Black theme) event and the Baltimore Biz Plan Competition. At the Washington, DC NFTE event, Southwest Airlines surprised three NFTE Rookie Teachers of the Year each with one roundtrip airline ticket.
At the Baltimore Biz Plan Competition, I enjoyed judging the business plans of four high school entrepreneurs. The first place winning student entrepreneur, Alexander Hobbs, CEO/President of Ezeey Breeze Air Fresheners, shared his passion for creating and selling organic, eco-friendly air fresheners targeted to pet owners and mothers whose children have allergies. Alexander graciously received a Southwest Airlines Travel Award (one Southwest Airlines roundtrip ticket). I can definitely say, “NFTE students are learning about operating the ins and outs of a business while exploring their dreams!”