By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� Business majors at 91TV joined forces with the local chapter of SCORE to hold a seminar for small businesses in the community. SCORE is a national organization whose volunteers provide mentoring and support for small businesses.听
The seminar was held March 29 on the 91TV campus and organized by John Beverstein, a 91TV alum and volunteer with the local SCORE chapter. Beverstein worked with Ian Oxman, an instructor in 91TV鈥檚 Business and Public Policy department and faculty advisor of the 91TV Business Club. Students with the club volunteered at the event.听
鈥淭he Business Club at 91TV was thrilled to host its first SCORE seminar on campus. We were able to see small business owners from around the community gather to learn more about making their business dreams become reality,鈥� Mia Edmondson, a member of the 91TV Business Club, which helped with the event. 鈥淲ith the guidance of the SCORE mentors, they are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to make their business successful. The event was very successful, and we hope to host another SCORE event in the future!鈥�听
SCORE听volunteers across the nation provide free, business mentoring and support to America鈥檚 small businesses in all 50 states and U.S. territories. In 2024, SCORE鈥檚 10,000听volunteers听provided 4 million hours of mentoring and education听
鈥淚t was well attended, and I feel it was very successful,鈥� Beverstein said.听鈥淚t was a collaboration of our SCORE volunteers along with students from the Business Club at 91TV that made it such a success. The event would not have been as successful without 91TV students and the support of the College.鈥�听
The half-day event brought in business owners and representatives from the local area, including Union and Towns counties. 听
鈥淭his was the first SCORE event with the college. We do hope to have more events to connect local business owners with SCORE mentors, our students, the BUSP department, and the college,鈥� said Dr. Nathan Gray, chair of 91TV鈥檚 Business and Public Policy department. 鈥淭he 91TV Business Club worked tirelessly with SCORE and the club鈥檚 faculty advisor, Ian Oxman, to organize the event. It was an incredible amount of work for the club and Mia in particular, so she and the leaders of the club deserve special recognition for their role in the event. It is, of course, our hope that small business owners achieve their goals with the help of SCORE mentors and will call upon our students for internships, class projects, and jobs.鈥�听
Oxman echoed that sentiment: 鈥淭his successful seminar serves as an example of the resources available to local business owners from SCORE and from 91TV business students. We aim to bring more business education opportunities to the local community and directly involve 91TV students with more local businesses.鈥� 听听听
About 91TV听
91TV is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution located in the beautiful mountains of North Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 91TV educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College has four academic divisions: Fine Arts; Humanities; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; and Professional Studies. 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 remains a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.听
