On February 3rd, the College of Charleston’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) program will kick off the second year of the Cougar Apprentice Program, a business-training program for high school students in Charleston County.

As part of the School of Business, the Cougar Apprentice Program teaches high school students valuable skills such as applying for a job, working in retail, and learning how to manage customer expectations.

Anderson Townsend, Principal of Military Magnet Academy said “The Military Magnet Academy is very fortunate to be able to participate in the Cougar Apprentice Program at the College of Charleston. Our students will receive hands on work-based learning which will foster necessary business skills.”

College of Charleston President P. George Benson said the apprentice program is another example of the College’s strong relationship  with K-12 schools in the Charleston area. “One of the College’s core values calls on us to strengthen and nurture local assets. By helping to prepare local high school students for the workplace, we are contributing to our region’s economy and quality of life.”

Two academic magnet student trainees will be working at the SIFE CUBE retail space on Friday, February 3rd from 8:30-12 noon  alongside their college level coaches.

The SIFE  team at the College of Charleston has a long history of community outreach and  development over the past few years, including running a youth business  plan  completion, a lemon-aid stand project, and many other initiatives. SIFE is a global non-profit organization, offering university students the opportunity to apply Market Economics, Entrepreneurship, Business Ethics and Financial Literacy Skills to solving real life problems.