Governor Snyder Urges Students to Follow Their Dreams at NAIAS Education Day

Governor, students talk power of entrepreneurism

Governor Rick Snyder today addressed more than 4,000 students from across Michigan, Canada, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois at the North American Auto Show’s (NAIAS) Education Day at Cobo Hall. Titled, “A World of Opportunities,” the State Farm Insurance-sponsored event offers high school and college students a customized experience based around their career interests with expert-led show-floor tours in a variety of areas. 

“The North American International Auto Show is the perfect venue for young people to see entrepreneurship in action,” Governor Snyder said. “The new technology and new products on display were created and produced by innovators who took their ideas and turned them into reality. This is the kind of spirit we need to increase tenfold so we can nurture entrepreneurs, create new businesses and jobs and keep our young people here.” 

Governor Snyder escorted a group of 48 students to a breakout session titled “Unleash Your Inner Entrepreneur: What It Takes to Launch the Next Great Idea from Michigan,” in the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Town Square display. Participants were divided into four groups of 12 to work with Michigan entrepreneurs from a variety of cutting-edge companies to discuss products, marketing and funding. Students learned how to put together a three-minute “elevator pitch” and presented it to judges for feedback. The team with the most compelling pitch received $10 iTunes gift cards. 

NAIAS Education Day featured presentations by the chairman of the NAIAS and other experts representing a variety of industry sectors. Customized tours geared toward marketing, engineering, alternative fuel technologies, set construction, law enforcement, journalism, culinary arts, telecommunications or public relations, were provided to students.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.