FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2016
MEDIA : Alex Held
YEA! Program Manager
703-525-2400 
Local Teen Auditions to be on ABC's Shark Tank
 
 
Arlington, VA  - 17 year-old junior at Yorktown High School, Zanab Farooq, auditioned for the upcoming season of ABC's Shark Tank on Wednesday, June 15 at 1776 in Crystal City. Zanab is the Founder/CEO of Z14 Cases which makes custom cell phone cases. Zanab developed Z14 Cases while she was a sophomore participating in the Arlington Chamber's Young Entrepreneurs Academy, an innovative program, held in partnership with Marymount University, that teaches middle and high school students how to open their own business.
 
Zanab will find out in two weeks whether or not she will be selected to compete on the upcoming season of Shark Tank. "It was a very nerve racking experience as I was the only high school student participating," says Zanab when asked what it was like competing for the upcoming season of Shark Tank. However, pitching in front of potential investors is nothing new for Zanab. One of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy's culminating events is an investor panel presentation where Zanab, along with the other students participating in the program, pitched her business in front of local business leaders, including Pinkie Dent-Mayfield, Vice President - Corporate Affairs, Special Assistant to the Chairman at Graham Holdings Company (former owner of the Washington Post). At the event Zanab was awarded $780 to launch her business. In addition to being awarded $780 to launch her business, the investor panelists awarded Zanab a $500 shopping spree courtesy of Sams Club, a National YEA! partner. Since graduating from the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, Zanab has continued to maintain valuable connections made through the program while building her business.
 
Arlington Chamber's Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!)
The Arlington Chamber's Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) is an exciting after-school program held in partnership with Marymount University that transforms middle and high school aged students into confident entrepreneurs. Throughout the program, students develop business ideas, write business plans, pitch their plan to a panel of investors, and launch their own fully registered business or social movement. Since the program's inception in Arlington in 2014, YEA! has graduated 26 students and 16 unique businesses.  Applications  for the 2016-2017 Arlington Chamber's  Young Entrepreneurs Academy  are currently being accepted on a rolling basis. Classes are held on Wednesdays at  Marymount University  from November to May, and students from all across the Washington metropolitan area are encouraged to apply.  Additional information about the Arlington Chamber's Young Entrepreneurs Academy can be found at www.arlingtonchamber.org  or by speaking with YEA! Program Manager, Alex Held, at 703-525-2400.
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Founded in 1924, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce is a member-centric, volunteer-based, non-profit organization of over 1,800 business and professional people committed to the economic and civic well being of the community. For more information or to become a member, visit www.arlingtonchamber.org.