High School Programming

The Circular Innovation Challenge is open to rising 9th–12th graders.

• Program fee: $1,800*
• Earn at least $20,000 in scholarship funds to attend L&C*

Overview

The Bates Center for Entrepreneurship & Leadership at Lewis & Clark College is hosting its 3rd annual high school program, the Circular Innovation Challenge. It is open to all high school students, including international students, and will take place in-person July 6–11, 2025, at the beautiful Lewis & Clark College campus!

We’re committed to not just teaching processes for entrepreneurship and innovation, but entrepreneurship for a more sustainable future. The “circular economy” might not be a familiar term, but it should be. We want students to understand the massive opportunities present for innovation in the “circular economy,” a market space for businesses that prevent waste, circulate products through renewal, and develop new business models that create value without using finite resources.

Throughout the week, students will be inspired by entrepreneurs and leaders in the circular economy, they will connect with college student mentors and a team of their peers, where they will learn and practice strategies for ideation and innovation, including lean startup methodology and the business model canvas. We’ve built an inclusive and transformative experience that will include inspirational speakers, mentorship, activities and challenges, the Portland classics, and great (circular) prizes.

We encourage all interested students to apply now as acceptances will be made on a rolling basis and participation will be capped at 39 students. The program fee is $1,800. This price covers all on-campus activities, housing, full meal plan and transportation to and from the airport as needed. 

*Students who complete a precollege summer program and are later admitted to L&C will get preferential consideration for merit-based aid and are guaranteed to receive a minimum of $20,000/year in renewable scholarship funding in the form of a Sequoia or Oregon Maple scholarship. 

*Sequoia or Oregon Maple academic merit scholarship granted at the time of admissions will already take into account any participation in a Lewis & Clark precollege summer program. Students with strong academic credentials who attend a precollege summer program and are later admitted to Lewis & Clark may find they are eligible for a Sequoia or Oregon Maple scholarship that exceeds the $20,000/year guaranteed minimum. 

Successful completion equals full attendance effort and completion of daily activities.

Precollege Summer Programs