Mission
Established in 2006 the mission of the Young Executives of Color (YEOC) program is to cultivate the academic potential of underrepresented high school student leaders in Washington State through college preparation, powerful mentorship, and the development of real life business skills. YEOC was established to increase the number of underrepresented students in the college pipeline and at the University of Washington Foster School of Business.
What is YEOC?
YEOC is a nine-month college pipeline program hosted by the University of Washington Foster School of Business. The program currently serves 170 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from 73 schools in the state of Washington. Students attend sessions on the UW campus one Saturday every month for college preparation, business lectures, professional development, and powerful mentorship. YEOC is a FREE nine-month program. The only cost to students is transportation to UW Seattle.
Benefits of the YEOC Program
- Preparation for college admissions & scholarships
- Exposure to a variety of business options and careers
- Professional development, competitions and lectures
- Chances to win prizes and EY YEOC scholarships for seniors
- Network with entrepreneurs from EY, Microsoft, Adidas, and more!
- Mentorship from an upperclassman student at the UW Foster School of Business
- A supportive network of highly ambitious high school students from across the state
Who can Apply?
High school students who are current freshmen, sophomores or juniors from any high school in Washington State. Students from underrepresented backgrounds (American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and Southeast Asian) & First Generation are strongly encouraged to apply. Prior business experience or knowledge is not required, just an interest to learn.
UW NetID is required for login. If you do not have a NetID yet, please request one HERE and mention that you are applying to the “YEOC Program”. Please note that this NetID will follow you if accepted into YEOC and/or the University of Washington. Make sure to keep it professional.
Community Collaboration
YEOC introduces students to a collective group of extraordinary role models and support services, including the following but not limited to the list below:
- UW Foster leaders and alumni of color
- EY Executives & Professionals
- UW Foster Consulting and Business Development Center
- Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity
- UW Office of Admissions
- YEOC alumni
YEOC encompasses a strong supportive community that extends beyond each Saturday session. Each community partner becomes invested in the students’ futures and we provide them with the necessary support and tools to help them achieve their higher educational endeavors.
Program Details
Interested in learning more about the YEOC program and receiving application deadline reminders?
To learn more about the YEOC program and receive application deadline reminders, sign up for our YEOC interest list.
| September 28, 2024: Student & Parent Orientation | October 19, 2024: Team Building & Networking |
| November 9, 2024: Marketing & Human Resources | December 14, 2024: Accounting |
| January 11, 2025: Information Systems | February 1, 2025: Consulting Challenge |
| March 1, 2025: International Business and Supply Chain & Cultural Showcase | April 5, 2025: Finance |
| May 3, 2025: End of Year Case Competition & Celebration | May 17, 2025: Senior Celebration |
- High school students who are current freshmen, sophomores or juniors from any high school in Washington State
- 3.0 GPA and above is preferred (but not required)
- Active leaders in their high school and community
- First generation students (strongly encouraged to apply)
- Prior business experience or knowledge is not required, just an interest to learn
Target Groups: Historically underrepresented groups: African American, Hispanic/Latino(a), American Indian/Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian.
- YEOC Application Opens in February
- Application Stays Open Until 11:59 PM on May 31st
- A UW NetID will be required for logging into the application. If you do not have a UW NetID yet, please request one HERE and say that you are applying to the “YEOC Program”. Please note that this NetID will follow you if accepted into YEOC and/or the University of Washington. Please keep it professional.
- Admissions Decisions are Released in Summer
Q: If I participate in YEOC is it guaranteed that I will get into UW?
A: Participation in YEOC does not guarantee admission into the UW. However, YEOC is a recognized leadership activity by the UW Office of Admissions.
Q: What if I can’t make it to one of the YEOC sessions?
A: All YEOC Saturday sessions are mandatory. Due to the limited time we have with our participants, it is required that students attend all session dates. Three unexcused absences are grounds for dismissal from the program. To excuse an absence you must contact your YEOC mentor AND the YEOC program manager via email at least a week in advance to be excused.
Q: Can I turn in my YEOC application after the application deadline?
A: No, late applications will not be accepted. The online application will close at 11:59 p.m. on May 31st.
Q: What if I do not have access to a computer or the internet?
A: YEOC understands that each applicant’s situation is unique. However, we have allotted a 4 month application window to allow individuals to prepare and find accommodations to apply for our program. Please consider using your school or public library resources.
Q: Can I save my application online and return to it at a later time?
A: Yes, you can save your application and return to it at a later time. If you are in the application you will find a “Save” button at the bottom of the application page.
Q: What are my chances of acceptance?
A: Every application submitted by the May 31st deadline will receive the same treatment. Each year the YEOC program admits an extraordinary group of students. We have carefully designed our review process to ensure quality and fairness. Admission into the YEOC Programs is highly selective and based on a comprehensive review of all applicants.
Q: Who do I fax or email my transcripts to?
A: Students must upload an Official Transcript upon acceptance into program.
Q: Can I call or email to check on my admission status?
A: We will not accept or return any calls nor respond to any emails regarding admission decisions. All applicants will be notified by email of their admission decision by Mid August. To verify that your complete application was received, please login to your online application to check the status.
Q: How long is the YEOC program? And how long are the sessions?
A: YEOC is a 9 month program that runs from September – May. All sessions are from 9:00am-4:00 pm, students must arrive at 8:30 am for registration and breakfast.
Q: Where does the YEOC program take place?
A: The YEOC program is held at the UW Seattle campus in Paccar and Dempsey Hall. All session details will be sent out to students and parents via email beforehand.
Q: Is YEOC a free program?
A: Yes, YEOC is a free program for students, the only cost is transportation to and from the University of Washington Seattle campus. All materials including, breakfast, lunch and session supplies are provided. EY and UW sponsor the program tuition, valued at approximately $500 per student.
Q: What if I have to travel hours to get to YEOC?
A: Transportation reimbursement is considered on a case by case basis, usually for students traveling 150 miles or more to UW.
Q: Do I need to bring anything to YEOC?
A: Students must bring their YEOC bag, binder, notepad, and a pen to each session—and a passion to learn!
Q: What do I wear to YEOC?
A: The dress code at YEOC is business casual, unless stated otherwise. This means slacks, collared shirts, button ups, polos, and dresses are preferable. Absolutely no jeans, hats, or baggy clothes.
Q: What should I expect at YEOC?
A: Each YEOC session has a different theme, such as accounting or marketing. Most sessions have 4 main components: (1) Keynote Speaker, (2) Business Activity/Challenge, (3) College Preparation Workshop, (4) Professional Development Workshop.
Q: What is the role of the YEOC mentor?
A: The role of the YEOC mentors is to support your students at each of the monthly sessions. Mentors will also contact their mentees twice a month (via phone or email) outside of YEOC to check on their school and college preparation process. Any other services such as tutoring or test prep that students request will be referred out to our partner organizations.
Q: How much homework will my student be doing at YEOC?
A: Homework assignments outside of YEOC are minimal. We encourage students to stay on top of their college application process throughout the year. Main YEOC homework assignments are updating your resume and preparation for the end of the year case competition.
Learn more about YEOC
Mentorship Program
YEOC Instagram
YEOC LinkedIn
YEOC Contact Information
Damariz Ibáñez
207 Founders Hall
[email protected]
PROGRAM FUNDED BY EY