Last summer, the University of Arizona campus buzzed with creativity and big ideas during the Entrepreneurship Summer Academy, a one-week residential program that brought together 32 high school students from across Arizona to explore entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation.
The Freedom Center and Take Charge Today continue to partner with the McGuire Center, based out of Eller College, to provide another exciting summer that asks high school students to think about what’s next and how they can direct their future as entrepreneurs.
Designed for students in grades 9–12, the Academy immersed participants in hands-on, team-based projects where they tackled real-world challenges, developed original business concepts, and built confidence as leaders and communicators. Students learned directly from University of Arizona faculty, college students, and local business professionals through interactive workshops, mentorship, and site visits.
The week culminated in an exciting Shark Tank style pitch competition, where teams presented their ideas to a panel of judges showcasing creativity, collaboration, and bold thinking in action that will launch them into exciting careers.
2025 Winning Entrepreneur Teams
1st Place Culinary Connect: a platform that connects local chefs with available restaurant kitchen space so they can cook, collaborate, and grow their culinary businesses.
2nd Place Nutrily: an app that helps users track their nutrition and create personalized meal plans to reach health goals.
3rd Place Fresh Flow: bringing clean, safe drinking water to communities that don’t have reliable access, using an affordable, solar-powered filtration system.
Apply for the 2026 Summer Program
The application for the the 2026 cohort is OPEN.
Dates: June 7-12, 2026
Location: University of Arizona McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship
Cost: $500 (includes housing and meals); discount available for students of UA faculty/staff
$50 registration fee due upon acceptance to camp.
Scholarships
Don’t let financial barriers hold you back from achieving your goals. Scholarships can be used to cover housing and camp costs, making this opportunity accessible to a broad range of students.
Click the button or contact robinp@arizona.edu for more details.
