Albany State University (ASU) proudly announces the relaunch of its Black Youth & Entrepreneurship (BYE) Program, hosted by the School of Business and the ASU Center for Educational Opportunity. Designed to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among high school students, the BYE Program is a transformative three-day, non-residential workshop that will run in two sessions: June 10-12 and July 8-10, 2025. The event is free to 24 high school students. Registration for session II is available now. 

For more than 37 years, the BYE Program has served as a powerful educational initiative aimed at helping high school students in ASU’s 27-county service area discover and develop their business potential. Through immersive sessions, participants will explore the concept of using their unique skills—what economists call “comparative advantage”—to provide goods or services in the marketplace. The program also incorporates lessons about housing and financial literacy, made possible through funding from the Georgia Housing & Finance Authority's Comprehensive Housing Counseling (CHC) Grant Program.

“Entrepreneurship education has long been a vital pillar at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, especially in rural communities where economic development and local job creation are essential,” said Dr. Kathaleena Edward Monds, Program Director and Professor of Business. “Reinstating the BYE Program in 2025 is not only timely—it is necessary. We are preparing students to become architects of their own futures and contributors to own communities.”

The BYE Program’s history dates back to 1982, when ASU offered its first workshop to just 17 students from the Albany area. Founded as a local adaptation of a University of Georgia initiative, the program was brought to Albany by Ms. Willa Williams and championed by former ASU President Dr. Billy C. Black. Under the leadership of past directors including Dr. Mollie B. Brown and Dr. Cynthia F. Bennett, the program thrived for decades, consistently attracting a growing number of students. Although temporarily paused between 2018 and 2024, the BYE Program’s return this year signals ASU’s enduring commitment to educational access and economic empowerment.

“Programs like BYE are central to Albany State University’s mission and strategic goals,” said Dr. Devi Akella, Chair of the School of Business. “We are expanding student access and success, investing in institutional sustainability, and cultivating partnerships that enhance regional economic competitiveness. This program gives our youth the confidence and tools they need to see themselves as business leaders.”

As the program launches its two summer sessions, ASU looks forward to continuing the legacy of cultivating young, Black entrepreneurs who will shape the future of Southwest Georgia and beyond.

For more information about the BYE Program, please contact [email protected].