Penn State student organization launches entrepreneurship mentorship program in West Philadelphia

Ascendance Social Enterprise Club X-Pen launched its International Entrepreneurship Mentorship Program on April 19 in Philadelphia.

The Ascendance Game Changers Mentorship Program is primarily based in Southeast Asia, and is a program in which university students serve as mentors to teach high school students entrepreneurship and financial literacy, as well as how to address social issues. Ascendance was founded by Harsha Ravindran, a college senior who also works on the staff of the Daily Pennsylvanian.

Adi Lankipalle, the club’s vice president of mentoring and a Wharton freshman, said the club’s goal is to provide students with entrepreneurship skills and “set them on the right path to hard work and success” in their endeavors. “It will change lives around the world,” he said.

The program’s first event was held at Liguori Academy in West Philadelphia. At the event, high school students divided into teams of four to five members and began brainstorming startups related to social impact and entrepreneurship, with support from Penn mentors.

The program will make its U.S. debut in partnership with Liguori Academy.

Melissa Liu, a Wharton sophomore who is spearheading the program’s implementation in Philadelphia, said Liguori’s program is different from previous efforts in Southeast Asia.

“West Philadelphia high schools are in a different environment politically, economically and economically. [and] It’s the social situation,” she said.[The students] They are exposed to a variety of social issues that exist in America that are not experienced in Southeast Asia, and they can certainly address those issues accordingly. ”

Luc Santilli, vice president of events for Ascendance and College and a Philadelphia native and Wharton senior, shared his excitement about bringing the program to the city and said he was “very excited” to be a part of it. I’m excited.”

Penn Student Mentors will be programming face-to-face with Philadelphia students, a change from the previous program format. In addition to the kickoff event, several in-person workshops related to financial literacy and entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and operations will be held.

“We are launching Liguori Academy to see how it differs from working with international schools, but first…to be able to really hone the fundamentals to run this program in the United States. For this reason,” Liu said.

Liu added that she and Liguori Academy Coordinator Shaylyn Mayer are working on a plan and making sure every student has a mentor.

“[Mayer’s] The kids told me how excited they were. Therefore, we are excited to match and reward their energy as well,” said Liu.