LAB Week 2024
LAB Week 2025 is scheduled for June 8-13, 2025.
LAB Week 2024 ran from June 16 – 21 at Lake Erie College in Painesville, OH. High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors learned from hands-on activities and presentations held by business professionals. Curriculum included team building, leadership, business basics, marketing, international business, management and entrepreneurship. Students of the program stayed in dorms on campus and had the opportunity to earn three college credits. We spoke to two high school juniors: Lauren McKinney of Fairport Harding High School and Alex Keller of Olmsted Falls High School about the program.
Lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Describe your experience at LAB Week 2024.
Alex – I was told by my educator that I should probably do this so I put in my application. Throughout the week, every day is a new theme, every speaker is very well versed in what they’re doing and everyone is very excited to be here. It’s a really good opportunity, I’ve met some amazing people and I got really lucky with my group. I don’t know if I could have done it without them.
Lauren – This has been a unique experience. We got to meet many different leaders in the business community – the local business community as well as international. It’s been a really impactful week as well as a very busy week. We’re all exhausted by now but it was so much fun.
What do you plan on doing for your education and career? Does it include entrepreneurship?
Alex – A career in entrepreneurship is probably going to be where I’m going to go but in a more financial sense. I want to open my own accounting firm and eventually get my PhD and teach accounting.
Lauren – My plan is to graduate high school and then attend college with a major in business management. Then I want to take over my dad’s business.
Would you recommend LAB Week to other students? If so, why?
Alex – I think it takes a work ethic – I would recommend LAB Week, it is 100% worth it but for a certain type of person. If you really want to go into business and you really want to learn or you’re really interested in doing something different then this is what I would recommend. But if you’re not into that – if you’re expecting a week of just being out of the house and maybe taking a couple of notes, then that is not what this is for. It’s a good program, it’s an intense program. It just takes a certain type of person.
Lauren – I 100% recommend this business camp to anyone who’s even thinking about it. Even if you’re not wanting to go into business itself. It’s just a valuable experience to network, meet a lot of new people, and work on problem solving skills. It’s a really awesome and unique experience that not many people get to have.