Cong. Hill Tours Little Rock Tech To Meet Local Youth Entrepreneurs
by February 20, 2015 7:30 am 256 views
Rep. French Hill toured the Metropolitan Career and Technical Center on Thursday where the former banker-turned-politician told a local group of young entrepreneurs that learning how to operate a business will be a great boost to their futures.
Hill visited the vocational school in southwest Little Rock following an appearance at the grand opening ceremony of FedEx Ground’s new 300,000-square foot distribution center in Mabelvale. Metropolitan, which is also known locally as Little Rock Tech High, is a comprehensive vocation high school within the Little Rock School District.
During his tour of the school, the Little Rock congressman spent time in classes at the local school where students were learning about computer engineering, advertising and marketing, and welding. Hill, former CEO and chairman of Delta Trust and Bank, told the students in the marketing class to learn as much about business as they can.
“I spent 35 years in business before I lost my way and went into politics,” Hill said jokingly as he talked with the students about operating a business. “I am encouraged by what I see here.”
At the end of the one-hour tour, the Republican lawmaker then participated in a mock trade summit sponsored by Elevate Entrepreneurial Systems, a local limited liability firm that tutors teen entrepreneurs. The summit included local educators, school district leaders, teachers and students discussing how career education and technical programs can be improved to support student achievement.
Matthew Hampton, co-founder of Elevate, said his organization chose to tour Little Rock Tech with Rep. Hill because he has found that students with strong vocational and technical skills tend to be better entrepreneurs than peers in traditional learning environments.
“Rep. Hill participating with us today is really important because it helps to elevate and raise the consciousness and discussion about what is real youth entrepreneurship education,” Hampton said.
Devon Thompson, one of the students participating in the summit, said the local program gives him even more incentive to go into business for himself. The 16-year old student at Little Rock Central High School said he already operates his own web consulting business, plans to attend Stanford University after he graduates from high school, and one day hopes to work in Silicon Valley.