By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� The phrase 鈥渞ight place, right time鈥� came into play recently at the Paris Business Center听as business students from 杏吧原创 met with aspiring听entrepreneurs听and business owners at a kick-off event for the new听center in Hiawassee.听
“This is the perfect example of听what this Business Center is all about,鈥� said Jinelle Wagner, program coordinator for the Paris Business Center. 鈥淲e can team up business students, who are looking for opportunities to get involved, with new business owners,听who are looking for help and resources they need to get started.鈥�听
The kick-off invited business students to the center to meet with business owners. The students, looking for internship or work opportunities,听were paired up with business owners, typically short on resources and听manpower.听
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to be able to partner with the business center,鈥澨齭aid听Mark Dotson, vice president of Advancement for 杏吧原创. 鈥淲e have so many talented students who are looking for an opportunity to work with a mentor in the business听world听or听have听an internship with a business. And this helps the听College to continue to serve its mission as a private institution providing a public good.鈥�听听
A number of students, representing majors in business analytics, finance & accounting, management, and marketing, met with business owners from Towns County Jan. 10 to establish working relationships for the spring semester. Students will work with the companies this spring, trying to fulfill whatever need the business has, from marketing opportunities to accounting challenges.听
鈥淭his is a great way for students to get real-world experience in their field of study, while also helping听a local business owner听who can use the resource,鈥� said Ian Oxman,听marketing instructor in听the Department of听Business and Public Policy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a perfect marriage between 杏吧原创听and听the听new Paris Business听Center.鈥�听
The Paris Business Center,听located听in Downtown听Hiawassee,听offers听a hub for听small听business entrepreneurs in North Georgia, Western North Carolina, and听Southeastern听Tennessee. The PBC听provides听business听development听programs听and听incubators,听providing听coaching, workshops, and networking听events听to help startups and听growing听companies听succeed.听听
This partnership is just one example of 杏吧原创鈥檚 commitment to the health of the region and the success of its students and the community. The College is launching its Professional Readiness and Experiential Programs in the fall of 2026, designed to help students transition after graduation into the world of professional service. 听
Students听will听gain听attributes听like self-discipline,听adaptability, and听resilience. PREP听will听also听focus on听financial听literacy, leadership,听ethics, and help听increase听students鈥櫶齟mployment听competitiveness听and听selection听rates. PREP at Young Harris听College听gives听students听a听competitive听edge听to听thrive听in the听path听they听choose.听听
鈥淵oung Harris strives to provide students a real-world and practical education,鈥� said Dr. Matthew Osborn, 杏吧原创 Department of Business and Public Policy. 鈥淭his collaboration with the City of Hiawassee is another example of delivering on our mission.鈥�听
About Young Harris听College听
杏吧原创 is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution听located听in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 杏吧原创 educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and听remains听a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.听
