AEP Wins OSU Women’s Giving Circle Grant

When freshman Austin Entrepreneurship Program (AEP) members have opportunities to meet in small group settings with visiting executives and entrepreneurs it can be a little intimidating. Many have never done this before and don't know what to do when it comes to introducing themselves, shaking hands, picking the right utensil at dinner, keeping a conversation going or asking appropriate questions.

Jennifer Villalobos and Laura Yoder, SIFE members, are leading the high school component of the AEP OSU Women's Giving Circle Grant.

To give students interviewing and etiquette skills early on in their education, the OSU Women's Giving Circle awarded the AEP a $5,315 grant.

"Families don't have as many sit-down dinners with today's on-the-go lifestyle," said Cynthia Potwin, OSU Women's Giving Circle site visit coordinator. "What past generations learned at home must now be taught in school. By giving this grant, we hope students will benefit and have an edge over other candidates for job interviews."

The grant covers the cost of six interviewing and etiquette sessions, each with 30-40 students, at Weatherford Hall for the 2006-8 school years. The sessions will be delivered by the AEP with support from Career Advising, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), AEP mentors and AEP Weatherford fellows.

Each session will include a social hour where students will be taught how to introduce themselves, how to shake hands and how to start a conversation. This would be followed by a sit down dinner that would include three courses with china and silverware settings. Mentoring and input on skill improvement, as well as brainstorming questions for future speakers, would be part of the experience.

"Students realize these skills are critical to entrepreneurial success," said Deb Rose, AEP program manager. "This training, in a non-threatening environment, will give students self-confidence and help them throughout their careers."

The OSU Women's Giving Circle members volunteered to help put on the sessions.

They also included $315 within the grant for SIFE students to develop a similar class for local high school students.

The AEP grant was one of nine grant proposals to receive funding by the OSU Women's Giving Circle this year. The Circle consists of 107 philanthropic women interested in furthering women-relevant programs that are under funded.

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