Press, Awards, &
Publications
IANR News
UpStarts extension program aims to support entrepreneurship and social connectedness among youth in rural communities
At the Sun Theatre in downtown Holdrege, two teams of high school students presented potential solutions for a problem their community is currently facing: population decline…
Holdrege Daily Citizen
Youth Offer ideas to boost local economy
Six young people from Phelps County graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Upstarts Entrepreneurship program on June 30. Two teams of teen-agers presented their ideas on how to improve Holdrege’s economy on pitch day…
UpStarts Press
UpStarts is making headlines! Check out the news about UpStarts and what youth teams accomplished from various other communities and organizations.
IANR Growing Magazine
Rural businesses team up with youth to boost economic vitality
An interdisciplinary team within the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln believes there is untapped potential in youth, and that this group could be the catalyst that Nebraska’s rural communities need to thrive…
Silicon Prairie news
The youth entrepreneurship clinic* at Unl builds founder and steam skills in high school students
Increasing attention is being paid to identifying and nurturing entrepreneurial talent at the high school level. One such initiative designed to equip high school students with an entrepreneurial mindset and STEAM skills…
*UpStarts formerly known as Youth Entrepreneurship Clinics (YEC)
Nebraska Today
USDA grant supports rural entrepreneurship project
A University of Nebraska–Lincoln project to support youth entrepreneurship in rural communities has received support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture…
Nebraska today
Reverse mentoring: Project connects teens, rural businesses
Two University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty are working with private-sector and community organizations to develop a youth-driven entrepreneurship program. The project is designed to encourage the growth of relationships between high school students and local business owners in rural Nebraska…
Publications
UpStarts values pushing research forward in areas of entrepreneurship, business, education, youth development, and rural studies. The UpStarts team consists of academics and specialists of these areas who utilize past UpStarts programs to gain new knowledge and insight into bettering communities and youth education.
Journal of Rural Studies
Rural communities as a context for entrepreneurship: Exploring perceptions of youth and business owners
Maria Rosario T. de Guzman; Surin Kim; Sarah Taylor; Irene Padasas
This study explores the perceptions of youth and business owners regarding the unique challenges and benefits or rural contexts for entrepreneurship, as well as perceptions regarding the potential role of youth in contributing to rural economies…
Awards
2021 – Excellence in Extension Award
Team Award Research and Discovery
Nebraska Extension
Presentations
2022 – Rural Nebraska Community and Youth Entrepreneurship from Community Development Perspective
Entrepreneurship Best Practices Summitt
Kearney, NE
Molly Brandt, Surin Kim, Lori Larson
2022 – Youth Entrepreneurship Beyond Pitch Competition
Nebraska Afterschool Conference
Kearney, Ne
Surin Kim & Maria de Guzman
2020 – Youth Entrepreneurship Clinics: An Experimental Approach to Encourage Youth Connection to Rural Communities and Developing Entrepreneurial Mindsets
Society for Cross-Cultural Research (SCCR) Conference
Seattle, WA
Irene Padasas & Olivia Kennedy