FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Callahan, Program Director, ActionCOACH Foundation
PHONE/EMAIL: 702.947.9445 / karencallahan@actioncoach.com
YESS Hosts Largest Quarterly Graduation to Date
LAS VEGAS--March 12, 2024--ActionCOACH Foundation recognized 11 young adults between the ages of 13 and 22 for their successful completion of the twelve-week YESS Business Basics course, plus 154 students recognized in local ceremonies. The graduates represented countries from all over the world, including Lithuania, Portugal, Jamaica, Lebanon and the states of Texas and Virginia in the U.S.
The virtual graduation ceremony took place via Zoom on Tuesday, March 12, at 8:00 am PDT and was attended by students, family members, friends and mentors, as well as staff and coaches from the ActionCOACH family. The ceremony was hosted by ActionCOACH Foundation Program Director, Karen Callahan, and ActionCOACH Global Marketing Manager, Magda Borowicz. Students received well wishes from Board Member and YESS Club Chair, Josh Bardsley. Thereafter, Founding Board Member and Founder of ActionCOACH, Brad Sugars, delivered a brief commencement address entitled, 'Making Your Dreams Come True.' According to Sugars, “We want to make entrepreneurs, not employees. When we 'ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in youth worldwide,' we help inspire and educate future leaders who can accelerate the global impact of an ActionCOACH business education."
The ceremony included highlights of two local graduations that took place in Kaunas, Lithuania, in February of this year (see SUCCESS STORIES - GRADUATIONS for more details on both). Special Awards for best assignments submitted were presented by Callahan to all 165 graduating students, including those who previously attended ceremonies in February. Some of the international winners had previously taken home awards on a local level for their schools.
With such a large graduating class, the competition was stiff. Migle Sirvydyte from Kauno Saules gymnasium in Lithuania won the award for Best Vision Board. Team Gabija Miliunaite and Viktorija Ausiuraityte, also from Kauno Saules gymnasium in Lithuania, took home a Best Business Plan for RooMates, their roommate matching app, tying with Bernardo Verissimo from Portugal for his prepared food delivery service, prépp. The final Special Award for Best Video Pitch was awarded to Titus Ashby of Virginia in the U.S. for Quarter-Sticks Arcade, his 80s-style game arcade. Congratulations go out to all award winners...and finalists.
The ceremony concluded with recognition of all 11 of the international graduates who had not attended local ceremonies. To view the full 27-minute Zoom presentation and a 2-minute Highlight Reel, visit the Foundation's website: https://actioncoachfoundation.org/success-stories-graduations/
Students repeatedly share with Foundation leadership how the program has opened the doors to new opportunities for them, helping them build confidence and a "wealth mindset." At a time when many around the world feel hopeless and afraid of what the future holds, these students are helping to unlock the doors of opportunity for themselves and their future employees.
YESS Business Basics is a twelve-week, virtual course that serves as an introduction into ActionCOACH Foundation's YESS Young Entrepreneur Smart Start program. It is designed to instill the business principles of ActionCOACH Founder, Brad Sugars, into youth ages 12- to 22, who receive the education for free. Each student must complete twelve weeks of videos, Action Assignments and weekly exams. In addition, they are each required to submit vision boards, basic business plans and video business pitches.
YESS Business Basics has enrolled 1,830 students all over the world since its inception in early 2021. To date, over 430 students have graduated from the program. The program is free to qualified youth.
If you would like to learn how to create a local YESS cohort in your community or you have a student near and dear to your heart who would like to apply independently, visit https://actioncoachfoundation.org/yess-program/
About ActionCOACH Foundation
ActionCOACH Foundation was founded in 2018 and is operated out of ActionCOACH Global Headquarters in Las Vegas. In the Spring of 2021, the Foundation re-launched ActionCOACH's ‘Coaching for a Cause’ program under the umbrella of the Foundation and launched its new YESS Young Entrepreneur Smart Start program to provide free business education to young adults ages 12-22. For more information on any Foundation activities, visit www.actioncoachfoundation.org or contact the Program Manager, Karen Callahan, at 702-947-9445 or karencallahan@actioncoach.com
About ActionCOACH®
ActionCOACH, the world’s largest business coaching franchise, was established and founded in Brisbane, Australia by Brad Sugars in 1993 when the concept of business coaching was still in its infancy. Since franchising the company in 1997, ActionCOACH has helped business coaching become more mainstream and the company has nearly 1,000 coaches in more than 70 countries working with approximately 18,000 businesses weekly to improve results. ActionCOACH specializes in coaching small to medium-sized businesses as well as executives, and their teams. ActionCOACH maintains its growth and strategic alliances by continual development of cutting-edge innovative technology, proven business processes, and systems to add value, satisfaction and additional income streams for its franchisees. ActionCOACH’s global headquarters is in Las Vegas. Visit ActionCOACH.com for more information.
