YES program, Upward Bound empower future entrepreneurs

Becoming an entrepreneur is no easy feat. There’s a lot to learn when it comes to marketing, finances, price points and more. But the Youth Entrepreneurship by Synovus program, also known as YES, gives high schoolers within the bank’s five-state footprint a jump-start on building businesses, creating independence and uplifting their communities.

YES, part of the bank’s Raise the Banner financial education initiative, is a free week-long summer program in partnership with Upward Bound presented at historically Black Colleges and Universities in South Carolina and Alabama. Financial education is a part of the mission of Upward Bound, so the collaboration serves as an exciting educational experience for the students, including volunteers that inform students of the potential their business ideas have and how they can make them a reality.

YES exposes rising ninth graders to seniors in high school to what it takes to own and operate a successful small business. They hear from local small business owners about the importance of budgeting, saving, establishing credit, understanding taxes and planning for a healthy business. The students even create business plans to bring their business ideas to life.

J’Naiya Whack, a rising Camden High School junior, shares her story of helping her mother with her catering business by being her dessert maker. “I’ve been in the baking business for about four years,” Whack said. “My goal is to grow my current small business with customers, go different places and sell to get feedback. I want to level up some more and feed people.”

Even though J’Naiya has goals of being a pediatric surgeon, she plans to use her business to help her fund her future with lessons on finance and maintaining her credit. Nancy Merolla, senior vice president of community development at Synovus, says YES has been a great asset to the community and those working behind the scenes and serving as mentors to the students. “From the start of the program, engaging with a class of very quiet, shy students to seeing them blossom and grow at the program’s conclusion is truly heartwarming,” Merolla recalls. “The students appreciate Synovus offering the program to ensure they have general small business knowledge and have the potential to move their dreams to reality.”

Nancy Merolla, senior vice president of community development at Synovus, says YES has been a great asset to the community and those working behind the scenes and serving as mentors to the students. “From the start of the program, engaging with a class of very quiet, shy students to seeing them blossom and grow at the program’s conclusion is truly heartwarming,” Merolla recalls. “The students appreciate Synovus offering the program to ensure they have general small business knowledge and have the potential to move their dreams to reality.”

Derrick Cabbagestalk, a rising senior at Camden High School, dreams of starting a tutoring business and is inspired by his little cousin whom he tutors. He says he sees himself in his cousin when recalling the days when he needed help during elementary school. Throughout the week, he learned that entrepreneurship is more complex than it seems. “It’s very multifaceted, and you have to dot all of your ‘I’s’ and cross all of your ‘T’s’ to be successful,” he explains. “Thinking about the legal aspects, longevity and making sure not to scale up too quickly and ensuring everything is safe and sound.”

Benedict College was the 2022 inaugural campus for YES, with 12 rising high school seniors graduating from the program. In 2023, YES returned to Benedict College, empowering 14 students to take charge of their financial futures. The program also expanded to Alabama State University, where 48 students in its Upward Bound program participated in YES. Synovus made contributions to each college’s Upward Bound programs to help continue their work of building tomorrow’s community leaders.

Makayla Sessions, a 2022 YES graduate, attended the Benedict College class ceremony to support this year’s students. “I wish other kids would take the initiative to learn,” she says. “My parents taught me about banking, but the YES program pushed it to the next level and broke down how it happens behind the scenes.” She’s on the fast track to owning her own hair salon and is using the information she learned in the program to prepare for her successful future.

Visit Raise the Banner to learn more about how team members are helping people reach their full potential.